*" o o_ % ^*&£* s % > o> ^ / '>- . ** > .^ 






.>;;;:;-'- s - ^ \ ". 



o v 






x\- * *- v- v " -> 


















LONG ISLAND 



MISCELLANIES 



BY RUSTICUS, G-ent. 



*/'/ 



NEW- YORK: 

EGBERT, HOVEY & KING, PRINTERS 

374 Pearl Street. 

1847, 



rs, 7 z<? 
■AsU 



PREFACE. 



Could Indian tradition be relied upon, Long-Island might have 
been the scene of many thrilling events to record ; but they are 
so vague and imperfect that they are scarcely worth recording 
in this enlightened age. The writer has, therefore, confined 
himself to such little events and incidents as have transpired 
since its settlement by the Europeans ; and while it has been 
customary for many writers to record many events from early 
recollection, and, it is well understood, that even Shakspeare 
drew many of his richest productions from rehearsals that took 
place around his paternal hearth, where a number of antiquated 
females used to assemble and rehearse over their wonderful 
stories of ghosts and witchcraft, which were generally believed 
in by the peasantry of that country at the time of his boyhood, 
and which, by the wonderful sagacity of that author, has been so 
ingeniously intermingled with history as to give them a " habita- 
tion and a name." 



IV PREFACE. 

The author, therefore, with the utmost candor confesses, that 
many of these incidents are reminiscences of incidents which 
transpired about half a century ago, and were the conversation 
of a few old worthies who used to assemble around his father's fire- 
side, to discuss their deliberations over a good mug of Oct< »ber 
made cider, while the others are merely recollections of events 
that have transpired since that time to the present. Some of 
these productions have been published in the Long-Island Star 
occasionally. They are now offered to the reader in a condensed 
form. 



CONTENTS. 

No. Page. 

1. Don't Care, 9 

2. Economy of the Weasel, -15 

3. Washington, 18 

4. The Leech, 27 

5. The Widow of the Revolution, 30 

6. Juvenile Ingenuity, 37 

7. Benevolence, - - 41 

8. Darby O'Roon, ........ 49 

9. Liddle Notions, - 56 

10. Philanthropy, - * 60 

11. The Long-Island Stai', 64 

12. Cain, - - - - 67 

13. The Prisoner, ........ 73 

14. Ancient Fable, ........ 73 

15. Casper, 33 

16. Uncle Johnny, - - - 93 

17. Lafayette, 97 

18. The Medical Student, - 108 



VI CONTENTS. 

No. 

19. First Visit to Maspeth, 113 

20. A Legend of Hemp Swamp, 119 

21. Sketches in Ornithology, 124 

22. Slavery, 128 

23. Mr. Jacobs and his Cat. 134 

24. Rural Sports, 138 

25. Sheepshead Fishing, 141 

REMINISCENCES OF BUSHWICK. 

26. Long- Island, 14? 

27. do 150 

28. do 155 

29. do 160 

30. do • 166 

31. do 170 

32. do 17.-, 

33. do 173 

34. Growth of WilHamsburgh, 132 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



♦1 Maspeth, the residence of Garrit Kurmau, Enquire, 
2 " There sits ' dont care,' — he has no home to go to." 

N 3 White Pot School House. 

M "Twelve coppers for Frog and two for Toad, Massa Johnny." 
5 Bush wick Church, 1820. 

\6 Perilous situation of Prince William Henry on the Collect, 
New- York. Winter of 1 780. 



MISCELLANIES. 

No. I. 
DON'T CARE. 

During my childhood, although I was a chubby 
boy and just commenced going to school, a small 
incident which happened to me has caused a slight 
shuddering to me on the very hearing of the words 
"don't care," although the expression is so often 
used. 

I had, like many other little boys, been sent to 
school rather against my inclination; but, however 
the teacher happened to be a man of very indolent 
habits, and careless of the attention of the scholars 
to their lessons. The discipline was not severe, still 
the confinement of a school house was extremely 
1 



10 MISCELLANIES. 

irksome and tedious, and after some time, myself 
and another boy about my own age and size, 
planned it out between ourselves to take a respite 
occasionally, and none would be the wiser for it, 
except ourselves. We therefore pitched upon a 
certain day to both absent ourselves from school, in 
order to have a hunt for bird's eggs, and other sports 
that might come in our way; and if called to ac- 
count for our absence, to say that we were detained 
at home by our parents. We accordingly absented 
ourselves from school on the day appointed, strolling 
and lounging the time away, and then returned to 
our respective homes as though nothing had hap- 
pened or been thought of. This having passed by, 
we began to plan for a second excursion ; but we 
were obliged to confine our haunts to a neighboring 
swamp or woods, in order to be secluded from such 
as might inform against us. However, the second 
excursion j:>assed off as the first until I arrived at 



MISCELLANIES. 11 

home, when I bolted into the hall to deposite my 
hat, and thence to the tea or supper room, whsre to 
my utter confusion, sat the teacher taking tea with 
the rest of the family. While my mother, eyeing me 
with a look of tenderness, saying, " Come, Freddy, 
poor child, you look as if you were tired to death." 
I accordingly drew a chair and seated myself at the 
table, but my feelings were those of a culprit at the 
bar of justice. The teacher, thinking it necessary to 
say something to me, at length began : " So, master 
Frederick, you was not at school to-day." Before I 
had time to reply, my father had put some question 
to him ; on which he turned from me to attend to 
him, and said nothing farther to me ; but my mother 
turned an inquisitive eye upon me, but said nothing 
at the time. But I made a hasty tea, and scalded 
my mouth badly, and left the room hastily, and, as I 
thought, made a very great escape. But it was of 
short duration — for no sooner was the tea-table re- 



12 MISCELLANIES. 

moved, than I was summoned before my mother. I 
had no sooner entered the room, than I was ordered 
to lay off my hat and sit beside her. I had now al- 
most began to consider myself too old, or as boys 
say, too big, to be corrected by my mother, and as 
it scarcely ever went further than a sound box on 
the ear, I dreaded the mortification more than twenty 
boxed ears. 

She at length began — " Now, Mr, Frederick, 
where was you all day, as the master says you were 
not at school V 1 I hesitated, and made no answer, 
and felt every disposition to take the punishment she 
would give, rather than expose myself and n:y tru- 
ant friend, and still hesitated in sulky silence. " I 
shall surely box your ears until you do tell, depend 
upon it now;" and she fulfilled her word, till my ear 
was stinging from the blows; but all I uttered was 
crying, '• I don't care !" "Not care ! tell me you don't 
care 1 you naughty boy, you. I'll tell your father of 
you, and he'll make you care." 



MISCELLANIES. 13 

Accordingly, the school-master having gone, my 
father was called in and made acquainted with the 
case ; but my mother had accented so strong on the 
words " don't care," that my father seemed roused 
at the expression, as though by instinct. " Tell 
where you was, this instant, I tell you, or I shall 
take a whip to you." I burst into tears, but could 
not degrade myself so far as to expose my compan- 
ion. This availed me nothing. I stood a few stripes 
tolerably put on, and then exclaimed — u I will, 
father — I will !" " And do you care now, sir V 7 
"Yes sir, I do ! — I went into Mr. Jone's swamp for 
bird's eggs." " You cruel wretch, to rob the poor 
innocent birds instead of going to school ! that is bad 
enough, but remember I have not chastised you for 
that — but never let me hear of your using the ex- 
pression of ' don't care,' again." 

My mother now interceded for me, and father, 
thro win cr down the stick, said in a milder tone — 



14 MISCELLANIES. 

' Come with me, and I will show you who 'don't 
care' is." So saying, he led me to the gate opening 
to the street from the court-yard, where we saw a 
well known vagrant of the village, seated upon a 
large stone, and clothed in all the habiliments of his 
profession. "There," said my father, pointing to 
the beggar, " sits ' don't care' — he has no house nor 
home to go to." 




ETo. II. 
ECONOMY OF THE WEASEL. 

During my morning walk, which I generally take 
every pleasant day, accompanied by a small dog, a 
little crossed by the terrier breed, I observed some 
of my men busily employed in repairing a stone wall 
where a small brook crossed the same. The wall 
had been thrown down by the frost, which frequently 
occurs in wet places. I had approached the party 
at work far behind the dog, who was making a ter- 
rible outcry a few rods from us ; on which one of 
them directing his eye to the place, observed, " Jo- 
ker has got something !" — and called out, " bring 
him here, Joker!" and in a few moments he came 
lugging along a dead "Weasel. He dropped his 
game, and after a few barks started for the place 



16 MISCELLANIES. 

from which he had brought it. " There's more 
there;" said the man who had called him. On ex- 
amining the little barn-yard poacher, I found it, 
from all appearance, a female. She was raising or 
suckling more of the same tribe of marauders for 
my poultry, and observing at the same time to the 
men, we must have them all if we can get them ; 
with this we all followed the dog to the place. The 
place of entrance being entirely too small to admit 
Joker to any closer acquaintance without help, I 
ordered the men to remove part of the fence, partly 
to encourage the dog in case he should find other 
burrows of them hereafter, while I stood anxiously 
looking to see the inside and family of the old Bur- 
gomistress in the retreat, they carefully removing 
stone after stone, until they came nearly to the top 
of the ground, and by lifting a large flat stone, hori- 
zontally placed, we saw a motley family indeed, but 
not all weasels ; there were but three of them, and, 



MISCELLANIES. 17 

as I hope to live, nine eels about the size of one's 
thumb ! It seems each had one about half eaten ; 
they did not appear to be much disturbed by the in- 
trusion, but each continued munching his eel. Joker 
soon despatched the weasels, but he could not be 
urged to molest the four eels, which were still alive 
and apparently unhurt, and which I ordered thrown 
into the brook from whence they were no doubt 
taken. 







No. III. 
WASHINGTON. 

There seems to be something in the very name of 
this illustrious individual, that every American seems 
instinctively, as it were, taught to venerate. 

Inasmuch as every trifling incident of his life is 
becoming more and more interesting, as time grad- 
ually is gaining space, from his life time to the pre- 
sent moment. I was seated the other afternoon, 
enjoying a cigar over a glass of pale Sherry, at the 
Maspeth Hotel, when a plain, well dressed, elderly 
man drew a chair towards me, and seeing me so 
much at leisure, evinced a disposition to enter into a 
conversation with me; when I observed — "Well, 
friend, it appears from all accounts, our now Presi- 
dent has left us." " Yes sir, so it seems — and on 
short notice." I replied, " He was quite an aged 



MISCELLANIES. 19 

man — not so old as myself by several years. Was 
you in this country during the Revolution, sir]" 
asked I. " O, yes sir; I was born in this country, 
thank God." " Then, sir, you must have some 
recollection of that trying time." " O, yes, I have a 
perfect recollection, but I was too young to enter 
the service at the time." " And where were you, 
s i r ?" " In Westchester, sir." "'Oh! then you had 
an opportunity of knowing considerable about the 
great movements of that day; and do you recollect 
the features of Gen. Washington as perfectly as 
though it was yesterday 1 and Lafayette, too 1 — and 
Harry Pinckney V 3 says I. " Yes," said he, laugh- 
ing heartily. " Crosby and my father were neigh- 
bors." So saying, I filled each a glass of Sherry, 
and offered him a cigar, which he declined, and said, 
"If the landlord has a pipe, I w r ill prefer it." 

This procured — " I should like to tell you a little 
circumstance which took place between Gen. Wash- 



20 MISCELLANIES. 

ington and myself." On which I observed I should 
be delighted to hear it ; on which he related the 
following history of a day in the General's employ : 
" Well, one morning father told me to take the black 
mare to Sing Sing, and get her shod, and wait till 
old rum nose Ben, as we all called the blacksmith, 
shod her. So I stood at the door of old Ben's shop, 
and who should drive up to the tavern opposite but 
Washington, in his coach, and Lafayette with him. 
They both got out, and as I saw, both passed into 
the back room, and the landlord followed ; and in a 
few seconds the landlord beckoned to me from the 
piazza. I felt frightened at first, and thinks I, what 
the devil does this mean ; but, thinks I, they want 
some grog and fresh water. I was in my shirt and 
trowsers, without shoes, and on my head an old 
cocked hat, and my feet and ancles, you may judge. 
I had been hoeing corn in the morning ; but on I 
went. As I approached the little square bar, I met 



MISCELLANIES. 21 

the landlord, he saying, ' There are two gentlemen 
in the backroom wishes to see you.' Unable to 
smother a laugh, ' My God! I can't go; see me,' 
says I, exhibiting myself and pointing to my bare 
feet, &c, &c. ' Come along, I'll go with you.' So 
in we went. As I pulled off my hat, the stoutest 
says, ' sit down, young man.' ' This boy,' says the 
landlord, ' I am confident will do any service you 
may trust him with, to your satisfaction,' and with- 
drew from the room ; and the General began, (for it 
was Washington himself) 'Young man, I wish to 
procure the newspaper of to-day, from New-York, 
can you procure it for me V I hesitated a moment, 
and replied, ' I think I can, sir.' ' Well,' says he, to 
the Marquis, ' please enquire of the landlord if he 
will furnish a good horse.' ' No, no,' says I, ' I don't 
want a horse.' ' How will you go, then V ' In my 
canoe,' I said. The Marquis could not refrain from 
a downright lauorri which brought the landlord to the 



22 MISCELLANIES. 

door. ' La diable ! you'll be drowned !' says the 
Frenchmen. ' There is not water enough in the 
North River to drown this child, I know.' says I. 
The Marquis and landlord enjoyed the retort by a 
hearty laugh, but the other turned to the window 
and looked on the river a few seconds, and observed, 
1 The tide serves and I wish to see you off. "What 
time will you probably return V I replied, ' between 
seven and eight this afternoon.' He handed me a 
gold piece. ' I don't want half so much,' and handed 
it back saying, ' I only want sufficient to buy some 
fowls and eggs with, for I am going to market.' 
The General turned to the landlord, saying, ' Give 
him such change as he wishes,' on which he handed 
about twelve shillings to me, while I observed, ' Now 
I'll run home and get some clothes on in a few 
minutes.' ' I wish to speak a few words with you 
before you start. I shall not be here again till I 
come from New-York, sir. In fifteen minutes 1 



MISCELLANIES. 23 

shall start from the little stone dock,' and pointed to 
it out of the window, ' but stay, till I desire you to 
be prudent and keep your own counsel, and should 
any mischief befal you so that you are detained, do 
not fail to let me know all circumstances immedi- 
ately, so that I may relieve you.' So, saying ' good 
bye.' I took my hat and started, and by the time 
stated, I started from the dock, and soon saw the 
carriage drive off. 

I soon reached the city, and went to Old Glaus 
Vandara's, in the Bowery, who used to keep the 
Sourkrout Club House, as it was then called, and 
where I had often been with my father, who was an 
old friend of his. I told him my errand, and the 
haste I was in, &c, on account of the time of tide, 
&c. ' Well,' says he, l here's Hughey Gaines's to- 
day's paper, and here is an English paper, which 
came in the British packet last night — take that too, 
and the sooner you are off the better; it is now 



24 MISCELLANIES. 

fie ad low water.' I felt rejoiced with getting the 
the other paper too, arid had them between my shirt 
and skin in my bosom very soon. 1 left my fowlfl 
and eggs with him, and took the baskets back, but 
not till the good old Dutchman had tossed into one a 
large roll of gingerbread, and which I began to need 
very much. As I approached the wharf there were 
three red coats looking towards a ship at anchor in 
the river. As I stepped into my canoe, they walked 
to the place, and one asked, ' Where are you going]' 
' To Weehawk,' says I. ' Where have you been ] 
' To market, to sell some chickens and eggs,' I 
answered. They said no more, and I made the best 
of my way to Sing Sing, with a fine tide, and soon 
arrived there, just before those I have mentioned, 
and my heart felt good to see the carriage drive to 
the tavern, and them both looking for me out of the 
window. I fastened my canoe, but left both baskets' 
for I knew that funny Frenchman would make fun 



MISCELLANIES. 25 

of the gingerbread. As I entered the house, the 
landlord was in the bar. I saw the back room door 
open, and the landlord told me to go in, which I did, 
and Lafayette shoved it slowly to. Washington 
was on his feet, and before I could take off my hat, 
he observed, ' Well, my young friend, what success V 

I laughed, saying, 'all good, sir;' as I thrust my 
hand into my bosom and pulled out both papers and 
handed them to him, he saying, ' an English paper— 
where did you get this from V as a look of appro- 
bation spread over his noble face. ' Sourkrout Hall, 
sir.' He reached his hand and took mine, saying, 

I I am greatly obliged to you.' ' Sourkrout Hall !' 
says the Frenchman, looking at me very signifi- 
cantly. 

" Says the General, ' You've not had your dinner V 
1 Not to-day, sir.' ' Marquis, please order some, and 
a dish of tea.' ' No sir, I must go home.' Wash- 
ington took out his purse, and held five guineas 
2 



26 MISCELLANIES. 

towards me. I drew back, saying, c I am an Ameri- 
can, sir, and father would make me return it right 
away if he knew it.' ' Well,' says he, { if I can 
reward you no other way, bear in mind this — Gene- 
ral "Washington thanks you, and give my respects to 
your father, and tell him I congratulate him on hav- 
ing such a son ; and remember, if at any time during 
this contest or hereafter, you should get involved in 
any difficulty, let me hear from you, and I will 
relieve you if in my power.' So saying, I thought I 
saw a tear starting in his eye, and Lafayette's like- 
wise, as they both hurried into the carriage, when 
the landlord followed to the steps. While the waiter 
was closing the door, says Lafayette, ' my God, what 
a country ! patriots from the commander-in-chief 
down to the ploughman ! they deserve to be free.' 
' Yes,' replied the other, ■ and I trust in God they 
will be/ as the coach drove off." 



No. IV. 
THE LEECH. 

There is scarcely a day passes in the life of a per- 
son of the least observation but which affords him a 
subject of amusement or instruction, or both, either 
in great or small matters. Since knowing the use of 
this singular little serpent by the medical faculty for 
blood letting, &c, I have frequently wondered how 
they existed in their own element, till the following 
incident led me to make more inquiry, and I find 
that it is common for them to fasten on the legs of 
cattle, sheep, &c, while wading into the water, and 
hence I conclude that the whole amphibious tribe 
are liable to their assaults — frogs and all. 

A few mornings ago, in my perambulations, I was 
passing over a ravine, when I came to a small slug- 



28 MISCELLANIES. 

gish stream, which oozed from a half buried spring 
of water at a short distance from me, when I 
observed a small turtle of the species generally 
called "the snapper," and which, when grown to 
any size, I have found very fine for the table. This 
was about the size of a silver half dollar ; on taking 
it up I found the shell quite soft, so that it could not 
have been out of the egg from which it had hatched 
but a few days ; I found it extremely weak, and so 
near dead that it made no exertions to crawl or help 
itself at all. I was wondering what should have 
caused its death ; it first occurred, it is starved to 
death — no, thinks I, nature no doubt has provided 
some resources in her wisdom, for all creatures, even 
in their most helpless state. While I stood musing 
upon the case, and holding it in my fingers, I dis- 
covered something sticking fast to it, between its 
neck and fore claw. I took out my pocket knife, 
and soon found it to be a leech about half grown, 



MISCELLANIES. 29 

which, from its own sagacity, had fastened itself in 
this particular spot upon its victim, where it could 
not be disengaged by any exertion the other could 
make, either with its mouth or claws, or even by 
rubbing against any thing — and either of these reme- 
dies nature had instructed it to use — but the leech 
had drawn itself up so closely that the turtle must 
have perished had it not been relieved. On my walk 
next day, I saw by its tracks, that it had crawled 
away, and I felt quite rejoiced to think I had saved 
its life. 




No. V. 
THE WIDOW OF THE REVOLUTION. 

I am very fond of spending a long winter's evening, 
occasionally, at a friend's house where there is a 
matronly old lady who has a faculty of retaining a 
recollection of circumstances, &c, which transpired 
long before I was born, and of which I can have no 
other chance of knowing except from reading, &c. 
She is a widow of the revolution, and the grand- 
mother of a part of the family, and is considered 
one of the greatest verbal chroniclers of the neigh- 
borhood. One evening, when among other passing 
topics of the time, the conversation turned to our 
affairs, and the pending difficulties with Great 
Britain, &c, the boundary question was named by 
some of the company, and the discourse mostly 



MISCELLANIES. 31 

directed to the old lady, when she replied, " Oh, that 
boundary question I recollect of hearing as long ago 
as I can remember : it has never caused a war yet, 
nor do I think it ever will as long as I live. I have 
seen two wars begun and ended, and hope never to 
see another." " Well, but, grandmother," observed 
one of the younger females, " what is our government 
to do— are they to sit with their arms folded and see 
a large piece of territory wrested from them without 
an exertion to save it V 9 " No, my child, I should 
not like that either; — and there is the McLeod 
business, too — it appears they wish him given up 
before it is understood whether he is guilty or inno- 
cent of the crime which he is accused of." Here 
her head began to waver while her eyes sparkled 
with indignation. " Is it because they are afraid 
justice will be done him by the courts of this country, 
or do they think as they did before the revolution, that 
an American jury was not competent to try treason 



32 MISCELLANIES 

und felony, and lie must be sent to England and have 
British justice done him V* — her eyes still sparkling — 
" Where would our Adams, Franklin, Hancock, and 
hundreds more I could name have been, had British 
justice been done them ?" with a strong emphasis ; — 
" they would have liked to have had Andre given up 
for British justice — well, they had Arnold, and gave 
him British justice, and then the world saw it." 
<£ Well, but," said I, " madam, should a war grow out 
of such trifling circumstances, England, with her 
hundreds of ships, &c. — " " Well, what of all that," 
she replied, "it is true the commerce of both coun- 
tries may be most seriously injured, but I think it 
would be the height of folly for us to attempt 
to build a navy to contend with England. We 
should run ourselves as deeply in debt as she is 
herself, then to forever after keep them manned, &c, 
&c, would keep us so, God knows how long." 
"Madam," said I, "I know of no other way to coir- 



MISCELLANIES. 33 

tend with her. It is true we could deprive her of 
the Canadas, no doubt, and lose our commerce — the 
Canadas we don't want, but the loss of commerce 
would be heavy and severe, and a sore, sore business 
for me at this time, with the Uncle Toby on the 
coast of Brazil, half full of sperm oil, and the Cor- 
poral Trim somewhere among the seas of the Pacific 
Ocean, sealing." " Well," said the old lady, " it 
would be bad, but as the saying is, ' all partial evil is 
universal good' — but, rest assured, the British will 
continue their overbearing conduct until Congress is 
forced to declare war against them, as they always 
have done, and then," said she, her eyes still spark- 
ling with indignation, " I should like to see such a 
man as Gen. Jackson at the head of our affairs, to 
say to Congress I wish you to say to the British 
Parliament — do our country justice, or we shall 
demand it at the point of the sword, and in case of 
prevarication or unnecessary procrastination, put the 



34 MISCELLANIES. 

country in a state of defence ; call home our ships 
first — commission as many privateers as may call for 
license, say to them, what you capture of British 
property is your own, all we ask is the duties on 
them ; then go further ; say further, all that you are 
obliged to burn, sink or destroy, in order to avoid 
recapture, we will indemnify you in, to one-half the 
amount." " Oh, but, madam," said I, " how under 
the sun could we pay them ?" " Pay them," said 
she, with great exultation, " why, with your surplus 
new lands, which are nothing but a bone of conten- 
tion for Congress to debate upon, and always will 
be, while this would distribute them to those who 
fight the battles of the country — give the surviving 
widows of officers, according to their rank or deeds> 
with children, a portion of land and a small pension 
to settle it — if no children, land or a small pension 
optional with herself, and call in the loans to the 
states of surplus by easy instalments as circumstances 



MISCELLANIES. 35 

may require; in a short time, every corner, from 
England to her colonies, would swarm with our 
privateers, so that they could not pass from one col- 
ony to another, without a heavier premium of insur- 
ance than such a trade will warrant — then declare 
yourselves the champion of Ireland's emancipation — 
send them munitions of war and arms ; if you can 
do it in no other way, send fast sailing vessels ; let 
them be even stranded, if no other way, on precon- 
certed parts of their coast ; they could be armed 
and encouraged so far by this as to give England 
considerable trouble in that quarter. But," said she, 
sighing, " I speak, but I am but an old woman." 
She stopped, but resuming, said, " ever since your 
grandfather was sent home, wounded at the battle 
of White Plains, wlien I got a letter from Gen. Well- 
ington, I have it yet, I cannot like the British ; and 
nothing gives me more pain than to hear of men in 
Congress getting up and descanting upon the great 



36 



MISCELLANIES. 



power and strength, &c, of the British nation : 1 
cannot but think them traitors to this country or 
descendants of tories of the revolutionary war, having 
no country of their own." Here she seemed much 
exhausted, and the conversation dropped for the 
evening. 




No. VI. 
JUVENILE INGENUITY, 

I always was an admirer of enterprise and 
ingenuity in children as well as adults; and the 
following little circumstance which took place a few 
days ago delighted me much. 

A little boy about nine years old, had noticed the 
swallows darting to a pool of water in the door yard, 
and carrying away the downy feathers which the 
geese had shook off themselves' — no doubt to line 
their nests with, I said, a feat which I had frequently 
witnessed myself. The little fellow no sooner heard 
this than "ha! ha! ha!" said he, "feathering their 
nests ! I thought that was getting rich." "When I 
replied, " and wont they be rich when their nests 
are feathered V 1 He noticed the beautiful plumage 



38 MISCELLANIES. 

of the birds, and set his invention at work in ordei 
to get one, and his first movement was to get me to 
shoot one for him ; this I could not comply with, 
telling him it was always considered very wicked 
for any body to kill swallows, and it was always 
attended with evil, and people said that the cows 
would give bloody milk and your chickens would 
get the gapes, &c, &c, and thought I had persuaded 
him not to interfere with them. This was, however, 
not the case. I was sitting in my study in the after- 
noon, when all at once I heard some one trotting up 
stairs, and instantly in came no other than Master 
Rulef, in great glee, saying, " Grandpa, I got him ! 
will you help me get him loose ?" He came up to 
me, so I looked at him, and to my utter astonish- 
ment, I found he had rummaged my box of fishing 
tackle and found a small trout fly and hook with a 
long piece of silk worm gut attached to it. This he 
had ingeniously baited with one of the down goose 



MISCELLANIES. 39 

feathers, and fastened the end at the side of the pool, 
to the windward, so that the feather floated the 
length of the line on the surface of the water. This 
done, he retired behind some cover to watch the 
result of his invention,' he had not waited long 
before a bevy of birds came along, and darted to a 
pool sometimes singing and next taking a feather 
and flying directly to the barn with it. The boy had 
begun to grow very impatient, until a fine, beautiful 
male bird darted at the bait, and was fast, and was 
fluttering in the water. The little fellow ran to him, 
the bird fluttered and struggled hard from his unex- 
pected loss of liberty, and before the feat was over, 
he was half wet over with dirty water, and so entered 
the study. I could not refrain from a hearty laugh 
before I could help to get him loose. I then told 
him not to squeeze him so as to hurt him. As he 
left the room and got in the hall, the bird gave a 
sudden flutter for liberty, and slipt from his hands, 



40 MISCELLANIES. 

to his great mortification ; and soon he came into the 
library with a sad countenance indeed, but said 
nothing. I observed, " What is the matter t" Al- 
most ready to burst into tears, " Grandpa, he's 
gone — he scrabbled out of my hands, and flew away." 
Seeing him so much hurt, says I, " Oh, sportsman, 
try him again!" "So I will," and started in high 
glee. How he succeeded after that, I did not learn. 




No. VII. 
BENEVOLENCE. 

I have always considered true benevolence 
among the first virtues that ennoble and ornament 
the human character, and in fact it may always be 
found closely connected to all the true attributes of 
heaven. 

I was indulging myself a few days ago after my 
morning walk, at a neighboring hotel, with a glass of 
lemonade and a cigar, when a gentleman drove up 
to the door in a gig and alighted, and the waiter 
took charge of his horse. He was accompanied 
by a fine looking little boy, I j udged to be about 
twelve or thirteen years of age. The gentleman 
drew a chair to the table, and called for some refresh 
ment, &c, while the boy began to scrape acquain- 
3 



42 MISCELLANIES. 

tance with my little dog which lay quietly under the 
table. The dog at first did not like his approaches, 
and growled a little, when the gentleman observed, 
"Take care, Rulef, that dog will bite you;" at the 
same time glancing his eyes at me, on which I spoke 
to the dog, and after a very few moments, they 
became so familiar that the noise they made began 
to be irksome and interrupted our conversation, on 
which the gentleman said, •' Rulef, if you will play 
with the dog, you may go on the piazza — no, take a 
walk to the bridge, but do not be gone over a quarter 
of an hour." " No, sir," said the boy, and oft' they 
both started on a run in great glee. After they were 
gone, I observed, " you have a fine boy there, sir — 
your grandson, I suppose ?" " No, sir," he replied, 
" no relation at all, but highly prized, from circum- 
stances;" and observed, "you admired the boy, and 
I sent him away in order to give you a sketch of 



MISCELLANIES. 43 

him." {< Sir, I thank you," I replied. After a few 
moments' pause, he began, as follows : — 

" I am a brewer in New- York, and am now pur- 
suing the business extensively. I was standing in 
my brew house door some two years ago, looking at 
my work folks variously employed, when a child 
passed me, going out with a small covered tin 
pail upon her arm. I paid very little attention to 
the child, but observed she was cleanly clad, and 
the pail was very clean, — when I called to one. of 
the men, who happened to be the man who had the 
charge of the Grains, as we term it, and is in fact 
parched grain after the spirit is extracted to make 
porter, ale, &c. I observed, ' Francis, what did 
that child want V ' Nothing but some grains, sir/ 
he replied, ' she is a regular customer every day, and 
often twice a day, and gets nothing but grains.' 
Thinks T what does the child do with it — she does 
not get it for food — and so it passed off. A few 



44 MISCELLANIES. 

mornings after, I saw the child pass in again, 
dressed in the same cleanly habit as before; as she 
was about passing out, I observed, ' what have you 
there, child V ' My kettle, sir.' ' Well, what have 
you in it V ' Nothing but grains, sir — mother sent 
me for it.' ' What use does your mother make of 
it V She hesitated, and I saw the tears start in her 
eyes, and passed on and made me no answer. 
Thinks I what does this mean — the child avoids my 
enquiries, and is in tears, God knows for what. I 
immediately called to Francis — says I, ' Francis, 
what does this mean 1 I questioned her and she 
burst into tears, and went away. Francis, what do 
you charge her for the pail full V Poor Francis 
now, it seemed, had got into a scrape, as he thought. 
1 Why, sir, I sometimes charge her three cents, and 
sometimes nothing, just as it hajipens, if I be dry for 
a drop of grog or not ; I did not think it worth say- 
ing any thing about to you, sir.' I could but smile 



MISCELLANIES. 45 

at his frankness; however, I thought it a little singu- 
lar, and made up my mind to know more about it, 
and the next morning when the child came, I did 
not show myself to her at all, but followed her 
wrapped in my cloak, so that she would not recog- 
nize me. I followed her into the suburbs of the 
city, into an alley, and saw her enter a small apart- 
ment at the far end. I stepped briskly on and 
entered without any one observing me. As I opened 
the door, there was a table set and a woman asking 
a blessing over the same. There were the children, 
a boy and two girls at the table, while the youngest, 
whom I had followed home, looked around, but had 
no knowledge of how I came there at all. I looked 
around, all was neat and clean, while I apologised to 
the woman for my intrusion. She burst into tears, 
and I explained the object of my visit. ' Well, sir, 
your curiosity shall be fully gratified — I am a poor 
widow, and have no relative in this country but 



46 MISCELLANIES. 

these children. I am destitute, but this I need not 
tell — you see our table — this is our daily food. 
Rather than send my children out to beg from door 
to door, or do it myself, I get a day's washing occa- 
sionally, but my means are so limited, that to pay the 
trifling rent is very hard, but I wish to keep my poor 
children together, and under my own eye, and pre- 
fer feeding them on grains or any thing that is food, 
than do any other way; now, sir, you know all." 
I made her no answer, put five dollars on the table, 
and told her to make use of it until I saw her again. 
She could say nothing, but sobbed, and so did the 
children, and I made a hasty retreat, and went home 
to breakfast, but not to eat it, for [ could not. My 
wife, seeing something amiss, importuned me so 
strongly that I told her the whole circumstances, 
when she said she would go there herself in the 
afternoon. T dined that day with a friend. In the 
evening, when seated at the tea-table, my wife ob- 



MISCELLANIES. 47 

served, " well, Mr. W., we have an augmentation to 
our family since this morning," "Indeed," I 
observed, " I expected as much. Well, you found 
things as I stated ?" " Yes," she replied. " Well, 
what have you done for them ?" " Why, sir, I have 
engaged the woman and the youngest child to take 
charge of Julia's nursery room, and the next little 
girl for Mrs. Drumgole, and the next for myself; 
and the little boy, by the by, is a fine little fellow, I 
thought would be useful at the counting-room in the 
brewery." I observed, "I admire your judgment in 
the management for them." Here the tears began 
to flow plentifully. " Why Martha, why do you let 
it worry you thus 1 It is nothing to us." " Well, I 
know that, but I cannot help it, and I would willingly 
pay the tribute of a tear every day of my life to feel 
the gratification I did on relieving that poor woman 
and her children to-day." 

" They have all continued with us until now. The 



48 MISCELLANIES. 

boy you saw has been at school ever since, and is 
now nearly ready for college ; and I natter myself, if 
my life is spared, to see him an ornament to his 
country. I have no son of my own, but several 
daughters." 

I thanked him for the narrative, and hoped he 
would live to see all his anticipations fulfilled. At 
this moment the boy and dog both entered the 
room. He ordered the waiter to bring his carriage 
to the door, threw him a shilling, saying, " come 
Rulef," then, after passing compliments, drove off. 




No. VIII. 
DARBY O'RO ON. 

During my residence in New-York, I purchased a 
property from the late Col. Rutgers, running through 
from Banker-street to Lombardy — now Madison and 
Monroe streets. On the lot on Lombardy street 
there stood a large three story very old house, and 
occupied by at least a dozen families, and of all the 
varieties of color, viz. : white, black, yellow and 
red. ; for one room in the attic contained an Indian 
and his wife, &c.,-who made baskets, and on the 
basement story were a young Irishman and wife, and 
two children ; over their door was painted " Terrence 
O'Roon's Grocery and Junk Store." Most of them 
paid their rent weekly, so that I was the landlord of 
many tenants at once. 



50 MISCELLANIES. 

I did not call on them for rent, and the first to pay 
his respects was Terrence O'Roon. He was quite a 
young man, and I found he had licked the blarney 
stone pretty well, and from him I got the names, 
occupations, &c, of all ray new tenants, and I found 
him quite a conversable man, from the county of 
Longford, Ireland, and had been all his boyhood a 
teamster from the Longford estate to Dublin. 

I was desirous to be more acquainted with him, 
and soon found that he knew every hole and corner 
of that city, and asked him several questions, among 
others if he had known where the post office stood, 
having heard of its architectural beauty, designed by 
Inigo Jones. Him he never heard of, but he had 
been at the post office hundreds of times to carry and 
fetch letters for Lord Longford and his agent, and 
brought the letter bringing the account of his 
brothers death at New Orleans. 

" Why, who was his brother," said I. " Why sure, 



BIISCELLANIES. 51 

sir," returned he, " was not Lord Pakenham his own 
brother?" "Indeed!" said I, "I did not know that 
before— but the post office— that's in Sackville street — 
" well," I observed, " is it so very fine as they tell 
of?" "It is not half so handsome as the City Hall 
here," pointing towards it. 

Thus our first meeting ended, but I was determined 
to make Terrence a short visit the first opportunity, 
and the next day I did, and down five steps I bolted, 
and was soon provided with a chair, &c. The good 
woman seemed a little surprised on seeing him make 
such a figure, &c., with me, until he observed, 

" Bridget, this is our new landlord, and this, Mr. 

is the little Irish girl I brought over from auld 
Ireland with me." She was a fine looking Irish 
woman, and her hair so red that I should not have 
dared to put my hand on it for fear it would burn, 
and curled in a thousand little curls, and altogether a 
fine looking and interesting woman. Terrence 



52 MISCELLANIES. 

observed, "you look tired, and it is very warm, 
take a little wine and water." I looked at the tum- 
blers on the counter, and they looked a little fuzzy, 
but made no answer. He requested his wife to hand 
a clean tumbler from the next room. By this time 
a little carrotty headed boy had become so familiar 
as to take hold of my watch chain, and looking in 
my face smiling, saying, " pretty." By this time the 
clean tumbler stood on the counter. " Come, Darby, 

now you must get some cool water for Mr. ." 

He made no hesitation, but as soon as the pitcher 
was handed, bounded up the stairs like a cat. Thinks 
I, what would I give if I could do this as conven- 
iently as that child 1 "While Terrence was reaching 
to a decanter, I observed, " What is that, friend 1" 
" Wine, sir," he replied. As I observed, " How is 
your brandy, sir?" "Pretty fair." "I will take 
some of that." He set out the decanter, and re- 
quested me to pour out for myself, at the same time 



MISCELLANIES. 53 

looking at his wife smiling, saying, '* I don't believe, 
Bridget, he is Irish, if he does prefer brandy to 
wine." After this I began to pass my jokes on all 
the red heads, for one girl's hair was like her 
mother's, and a boy, whose hair was like his father's, 
black — and that subject finished the visit. The next 
day I made another visit, but this was on business, 
as I knew nothing of my tenants, and he knew all 
about them, and I concluded as he kept a grocery, &c, 
they were more or less tributary to him ; and Ter- 
rence from that time became my protege and fiscal 
agent, as they say in Congress — but President Tyler, 
I think, knows better than to let that rooster fight. 

But my business with Terrence now finished, and 
the counter ceremonies too, but not at his expense 
this time. 

I made a number of visits there afterwards, and I 
liked to go there, for they seemed to live so happy 
in their own way. 



54 MISCELLANIES. 

The visit which is to finish the story, was on Sun- 
day. Bridget and the younger child were gone to 
meeting; they were Catholics. I was no sooner 
seated than I saw poor little Darby sitting on a stool 
and in tears. " Why, my right hand man, what is 
the matter with you V " Father has beat me, sir." 
On which the father observed, " that fellow has a 
propensity for killing every thing that happens to 
come near him, and I don't like that disposition, and 
am determined to break him of it." "Why," lob- 
served, " what does he kill ?" " Why, there cannot 
come a fly near, but he must kill him, and when he 
can't find any thing to kill in the house, he goes in 
the yard for butterflies, grasshoppers, and any thing 
he can see." It was between 11 and 12 o'clock, and 
I began to think seriously of some refreshment, when 
I looked on the counter where there had been some 
ale spilt, and if there was one fly there were a mil- 
lion. Well, thinks I, you need some one to kill flies. 
Poor little Darby sat on his stool. I had taken the 



MISCELLANIES. 55 

Sun paper to read, and Terrence was poring over his 
missal. I was looking at the boy, and presently a 
large cockroach started before him from under the 
Btool on which he sat. I saw him look at his father ; 
but the temptation was too great — his foot was on 
him, and he lay there smashed, which was no very 
agreeable sight: however, his father saw it all, and 
raised on his feet. " Well, Darby, you remember 
what I told you this morning." The child sat in si- 
lence. "Well, if you don't remember, I do. You 
shall eat him right off." All eyes were turned to the 
dead insect, till I observed, " for God's sake, you are 
not in earnest, Terrence]" " To be sure I am" — 
while all sat in silence, until the poor little fellow 
sobbed, saying, " Father, you'll allow me a little salt 
with him V I took the insect in my fingers with a 
piece of parser, and threw it out of the window. 

Terrence and his son often take a walk out to the 
mansion to visit me, and we seldom fail to have a 
joke on the respite of the Sunday morning of 1826, 



No. IX. 
LIDDLE NOTIONS. 

I was quite amused a few evenings since, with a 
night scene I witnessed near my own residence, 
although it bordered rather more on the ridiculous 
than any thing else. The evening was one of the 
most pleasant I ever witnessed, and extremely 
brilliant, which induced me to step from the piazza 
across the court-yard to the road. I stopped at the 
outer gate, listening to the wild notes of a screech 
owl from an old orchard. While thus engaged, I 
heard, or fancied I heard human voices at a distance, 
and soon found some persons were approaching 
nearer, but could not as yet understand one word of 
their conversation, as they both spoke -broken 
English. As they approached, I soon discovered 



MISCELLANIES. 37 

them to be Mynheer Van Brommel and Dan M'Kig- 
gan, two roaring wights, well known in the village, 
who it seems had been offering a nocturnal libation 
at the shrine of the merry god, at a neighboring 
tavern ; for it appears that all the divinities of old, 
still have their votaries in these modern times. 
Tbey soon approached opposite where I stood, with 
a heavy step, locked arm in arm, leaning hard 
against each other, as I have seen a yoke of cattle 
drawing a heavy burden. They passed on a short 
distance to where the road parted, and where I 
expected they would separate, and each go to his 
own home. But arrived at that spot, they both 
halted. I could discover that they had been gaming, 
and had been great winners in the operation, but to 
what extent I could not learn. However, they were 
exulting over their antagonists freely, till Dan 

slapped his hand on his pocket, exclaiming, " by , 

I have left my sneeshing on the table at Uncle 
4 



58 51 1 S C E L L A N I E S . 

Joe's!" This set the other to the same enquiry, 
and he cried out, " my snickersnee is there too I" 
" I cannot lose my mull," says the Scot. " Well," 
says the other, " a Dutchman must have his snicker- 
snee, so we must e'en go back ;" and back they went, 
arm in arm. The distance being short, I concluded 
to await their return, and witness their parting. In 
a short time, I heard their footsteps approaching the 
place where they started back from, and Van Brom- 
mel observed, " now Dan, we will divide our ' liddh 
notions." " What you mean ?" says his comrade. 

" Vy, de monish vat we won at ." " Oh, leave 

it till morning," replies the Scot, who was one of 
Sir Walter's tallest Highlanders, and no doubt from 
the length of his arms, a relation of the' race of 
Rob Roy's band of Scotchmen. " No, no," says the 
petulant German, " I like to settle these liddle 
notions right away." On which they no sooner 
unlocked their arms to get at their pockets, than 



MISCELLANIES. 59 

they both staggered some distance apart, and dis 
closed to me for the first time that they were in a 
state of inebriety. " Ye daft gawk," says the 
Scotchman, " where are you going V " Dunnei 
and blitzen !" says the other, "can't you standstill 
till I come 1" On this, they both made a sally 
towards each other, but instead of meeting, they 
staggered, passed each other, and halted again 
" You flunkie, are you drunk ?" says one. " No, I 
aint, but you are," was the reply. They then made 
another attempt, and succeeded about as well as 
before. The novelty of the scene had now reached 
its climax, and I could not refrain from a dowi. 
right laugh, which Mynheer catching, says, " hush 
Dan, there is old Rusticus by his gate laughing at 
us. Run for your life, or he'll have us both in the 
Long-Island Star to-morrow, as a big gun, and our 
bag of money too." 



No. X. 
PHIL AN THROP Y. 

Man, when endowed by wisdom, philanthropy, 
benevolence, godliness, and all the corresponding 
attributes of heaven, to his most exalted situation in 
life, no doubt approaches nearer and is more accept- 
able in the sight of Deity than any other being. He 
having been created and formed in the likeness of 
his Creator, and still, from causes yet to us unknown, 
he is left to his own will, which is so imperfect and 
delusive, that he is often seen to sink deeper in 
degradation, than many of the brute creation. Yet 
certain vicissitudes may place him in such situations, 
as to become a scourge to his fellow creatures, 
whenever they may come under his influences, and 
this appears to be his character and condition in this 



MISCELLANIES. 61 

life, at the present period of time. To trace him 
from the time of his creation correctly is entirely 
beyond our intention, but this appears to be his 
present situation, ranging through all grades from 
true greatness and earthly glory down to nothing ; 
thence through every species of depravity to degra- 
dation, and so on to the very verge of existence- 
Still Philanthropy pleads in extenuation and tells us 
that we are all fallible, laboring under the imperfec- 
tions of human nature, and all receive our imposing 
and lasting impressions from our early precepts, 
habits, and education. 

Next we see him in his religious character; that is 
as regards the conditions existing between his 
Maker and himself, which must be taken both in the 
religious and moral point of view, as it regards his 
future state, in case he has been taught to believe he 
is to inherit any, or that he has been left unprovided 
for after this life, in common with the brute creation; 



62 MISCELLANIES. 

and I shudder lest there may be some few who 
entertain such opinions. Of all the gratifications the 
human mind can create for itself, I know of none 
that exceeds Philanthropy and its attributes — and 
none more disgraceful to the human character than 
that of an affectation of sanctity, because I think it 
is trifling with our Maker; and, as Lavater or some 
other author truly says, " it is a blot on the face of 
piety." And nothing gives me more pain than to 
hear a fanatical quack endeavoring to strip the 
beautiful edifice of a single ornament, which incul- 
cates harmony and good will in our social compact, 
nor do I think there is any thing more incompatible 
with true religion; and whenever I see it, I conclude 
in my own mind there is no religion at all. 

The Bigot will discard every feature of Philan- 
thropy, Benevolence, and all their accompanying 
virtues, as unimportant in this world or the next, 
and wrap himself in the pretended sanctified robes 



MISCELLANIES. '63 

of his faith alone, through which he expects to gain 
a spiritual El Dorado in the next. While the 
Philanthropist enjoys the pleasing sensations arising 
from earthly virtues, and the delightful sunshine 
reflected from friendship and its solicitudes on the 
sympathizing heart, and thereby mingling good 
Works with his hopes and faith until more confidently 
secure from having sown the seed preparatory to 
a celestial harvest, already, in the terrestrial world. 




No. XI. 

The reading of Rusticus in the Long-Island Star 
the other day, brought to my recollection a little 
circumstance which must have taken place nearly 
half a century ago, which still is fresh in my memory. 
When I was a small boy, when on my way to school 
one morning. I stopped a few minutes in the harvest 
field where my father, elder brother, and others were 
at work. While I was standing there with my 
satchel hanging on my arm, we saw a person upon 
the road alight from a black horse with saddle-bags 
on, while we all stood wondering ; what his business 
could be no one could say or imagine. He soon 
approached the party, holding in his hand a bundle 
of folded papers ; he advanced and was received by 
my father with the usual courtesy of strangers' 
meeting. Allow me a brief digression — in those 



MISCELLANIES. 65 

times if I thought him to be a sheriff perhaps. He 
proved to be a fine looking and well spoken man, 
whose business was to inform my father that he was 
about establishing a newspaper in Brooklyn, and 
wished to get subscribers among the farmers and 
others ; neither said one word about politics, that I 
recollect of, but he descanted largely on the price 
current for grain, hay, stock, and all kinds of pro- 
duce. With this he formed a sheet as a sample of 
the style the paper would appear in. The price 
current seemed to take pretty well with father, 
but I recollect perfectly well he did not (in those 
humble times,) like to incur the expense. The 
yearly subscription I do not at present recollect ;. 
however, after a short hesitation, the old gentleman 
consented to become a subscriber, for which Thomas 
Kirk, for him it was, thanked him very politely, and 
after enquiring of him which of his neighbors were 
most likely to subscribe to the Long-Island Star, 
he bowed and wished all good morning, and 



66 MISCELLANIES. 

soon mounted his black pony and rode off, while my 
father and the rest resumed their labors, and I 
trudged off to the little village school house. 

When I returned from school in the afternoon, 
the paper was lying upon the table, which I 
seized with great eagerness ; but all seemed unin- 
teresting until I came to the advertisements, and 
here were pictures of houses for sale, fine stud 
horses and stolen horses, and cows strayed ; and to 
crown all, a little runaway negro ! while in ecstasy 
I exclaimed, " mother, there goes uncle Casper's 
little Toney ;" and I doubt whether old Faust him- 
self felt more gratification when he beheld his first 
printed page of the Bible — was it ] yes, (it must 
have been the Bible, or else why would the monks 
have taken so much umbrage towards him as to 
league him with the devil for making Bibles cheap,) 
than I did when on procuring the Long-Island Star 
the first time. What must the monks say now, when 
we give away Bibles and hire people to read them 1 



No. XII. 

CAIN. 

I am always somewhat curious, when I find any 
old books or papers that have been thrown aside, no 
one knows how long, as useless, as they really are, 
unless to a person of leisure and curiosity. The 
other day my people were cleaning house, as is the 
custom every spring here, and among other rubbish 
found in the garret, or attic, I observed an old, 
empty, and once green painted gin case, a household 
god among the emigrants from Holland to this 
country, some century ago. I happened to see that 
the inside had paper pasted on the lid, which was 
written upon in low German. This made me desi- 
rous to know what it was. I therefore broke off the 
hinges, and took the lid to a linguist. It proved to 



RIISCELLANIES. 



be the following effusion, as rendered into "English, 
though by whom it was first written, Heaven only 
knows : — 

" Cain : a Speculation. — The time of the ex- 
istence of this unfortunate man is so remote that it is 
impossible to obtain any correct biography of him. 
It is, however, recorded in Scripture, that he was the 
first child born of a woman, and likewise the first to 
commit the dreadful crime of murder on earth, and 
for which he was sentenced by the Almighty to the 
greatest misery that human creature could suffer — 
banished, disgraced, and branded — so that man nor 
beast would destroy him. Nor was it left to his 
will 10 commit suicide to end his miserable existence. 
He was to remain on earth for a given time, and 
then his name was to be handed down to all the 
generations of the earth that were to come there- 
after; apparently without a possible chance of a 
reconciliation to his Maker. 



MISCELLANIES. 69 

"Although Scripture is silent on this subject, and 
leaves us in the dark on this as well as many other 
matters, still it is mentioned by several ancient 
writers, both sacred and profane, and by them termed 
Mysteries, that Cain and Abel had each a twin 
sister. 

"It appears that the first offspring of Adam and 
Eve were a twin brother and sister ; and entering 
the world first male and then female, as created. 
The first, it seems, was by our first parents called 
Cain, and the other Mahalah ; both, no doubt, 
comely aud fine looking children, and both were 
nursed at the same breast, which, of course, caused 
a still stronger affinity. 

"In the course of time another son and daughter 
were born unto the same parents — a son and a 
daughter likewise, and called Abel and Zillah, and 
here all accounts seem to leave the narrative some- 
what in obscurity. Cain seems to have grown up 



70 MISCELLANIES. 

into stately manliness and of great vigor, and 
Mahal all almost divinely beautiful, possessed of 
every quality to make her beloved by all around her. 
Abel appears to have grown up in imbecility and 
slender of constitution, and his twin sister of an 
amiable but melancholic disposition. 

"The temper of Cain and Mahalah, therefore, 
being more congenial, brought them more together, 
and as they grew to years of knowledge, it is natu- 
rally to be supposed that a childish attachment, was 
first formed which was the forerunner of the dread- 
ful consequences that followed. Cain* in conse- 
quence of his robust and powerful frame, was 
selected by his parents to cultivate the ground for 
their mutual subsistence. It is probable that Mahalah 
was often his companion, and it was but reasonable 
to suppose that their intercourse would end in that 
attachment which never can be broken on earth, nor 
perhaps in heaven. Abel, it seems, as his frame was 



MISCELLANIES. 71 

weak and slender, and not able to endure the hard 
labor allotted to his brother, was selected to guard 
the flocks, and therefore secure the fruits of his 
brother's labor from their depradations, which must 
frequently have brought them together in the fields, 
and where the sisters no doubt often came. Mahalah 
being the most inviting, the young men of course 
paid more attention to her than Zillah^ and Cain, 
knowing Abel to be the favorite with the mother, 
became alarmed lest her influence might be exer- 
cised in favor of his brother, which, it seems, proved 
to be the case, which ended in the positive command 
of Adam, (sole king then,) at the instigation of Eve, 
inclining towards her favorite son, that Cain should 
have Zillah for his wife, and Abel Mahalah. This, it 
appears, was more than Cain's nature could with- 
stand, and he, having his father's commands, through 
the intrigues of his mother, to contend with, his 
overruling passion for Mahalah, and indifference for . 



72 MISCELLANIES. 

Zillab, overcame his sense of duty toward Heaven 
and his parents ; and being certain, perhaps, that if 
the destruction of Abel was accomplished, his path 
to happiness would be clear, he was driven to rebel- 
lion against his Maker and the world. 

" What happened to him after all this, we know 
very little about. The Scriptures merely mention 
that he went to the land of Nod, and there had a 
wife. The rest remains in obscurity. There is 
nothing left to contradict the supposition that Mahalah 
emigrated with him, according with the modern 
custom, where parents interfere in similar cases." 

I regret very much that the signature was omitted, 
for I should like very much to have known who the 
old Heer was that wrote it. 



No. XIII. 
THE PRISONER. 

During the late war between the United States 
and Great Britain, among the privateers fitted out in 
the city of New-York, was the Yorktown, com- 
manded by Captain Riker, a native of Newtown, 
Long-Island, where many of her crew, some of 
whom were farmers' sons, belonged; and among 
them was a tall stripling of a youngster, by the name 
of Botterfolk. He was a tall, uncouth looking lad, 
with a countenance full of good nature, and ex- 
tremely awkward in his gait and whole deportment. 
This vessel, after an unsuccessful cruise, was 
captured. 

A day or two after the capture, the prisoners were 
permitted to visit the deck in squads, and remain 
5 



74 MISCELLANIES. 

some time for their health ; and one day, the weather 
being very fair, a squad was summoned for that 
purpose, among whom was young Botterfolk. They 
were permitted to chat with one another. They 
had not been there but a short time, before the 
attention of the crew, &c, were called, by the 
appearance of the commander upon deck. He was 
an aged man, with a fine open countenance, and 
appeared to walk with pain and some difficulty, and 
finally hobbled forward to see his American prisoners, 
accompanied by a fine looking young officer sup- 
porting him by one arm, but made no observation 
until halting at a short distance from the group, 
where he stood a few moments. He smiled and 
fixed his eyes on the odd figure of young Botter- 
folk, when he gazed and turned to the Midshipman, 
saying, " I will speak to that young man:" when he 
approached; all eyes were upon him as he says, 
"young man, what part of the United States are you 



MISCELLANIES. 75 

from V* Our hero, not in the least daunted, promptly 
replied, " Newtown, sir." " Newtown ?" said the 
Commander. " Yes, sir, Newtown, Long-Island.' 7 
" Near New- York V " Yes, sir." The odd appear- 
ance seemed to have attracted his attention. " Is it 
a large town ?" " No, sir." " Is it famous for any- 
thing ?" smiling. " Not much, sir j nothing but 
pretty gals and pippins ;" says the other cheerfully. 
The old veteran burst into a laugh, and laying his 
hand upon his side, says, " Ashburton, lead me to the 
cabin, and tell the young man to accompany us 
below" — and the prisoner followed, and was courte- 
ously beckoned to a seat, when the following con- 
versation took place : — 

" So you say your native place is Newtown V 
" Yes, sir." " Well, pray tell now if that is near any 
place called Englishtown, or English Neighbor- 
hood V — a short hesitation. — " Was'nt it English 
Kills, sir]" " Aye, I believe it was." "Is there an 



78 MISCELLANIES. 

outlet to Long-Island Sound I" " Yes, sir." " There, 
Ashburton, is where we wintered in 1780, with the 
sloops Fox and Weazel, when I was a midshipman, 
during the rebellion in America." " Is it possible ?*' 
said the young officer. " Tell me further ; is the 
Quaker family there yet ? I think the name was — 
hold — was, Way — the same — " " No, the place 
where you wintered is now called Mott's Island." 
" Well, if I ever should visit New-York I will visit 
that spot." " Well, Pa," said the young man, " that 
may happen before long. If we should happen to 
fall in with Hull, Decatur, or any of those fine ships, 
with this old hulk under us," " God forbid," says 
the Commander. On this he took from the scrutoire 
two pieces of gold and handed them to the 
prisoner, saying, " Young man, it is uncertain where 
we may be obliged to land you ; these will assist 
you on the way to reach your friends." The 



MISCELLANIES. 



77 



prisoner took his hat to depart. " Stay," says he. 
Ashburton call the steward." And soon a flask of 
old Jamaica stood before them, after which the 
prisoner took his leave. 




No. XIV. 
ANCIENT FABLE. 

We learn from history and other sources, that 
Fables are of great antiquity, and nearly coeval with 
the first invention of letters by the Egyptian Mem- 
non, while other writers say that the letters were 
introduced into that country by a colony of Phoeni- 
cians, who likewise founded Thebes ; while others 
again say they were known at Babylon, long before 
this. With both of these countries the Jews, from 
the great extent of their commerce, had intercourse. 
The first Fable extant, is " Jotham's, of the Trees." 
The beautiful allegory of Nathan, in his reproof of 
David, stands pre-eminent in simplicity and beauty ; 
and in iEsop's time, a serious rebellion, during the 
commonwealth of Rome, was stayed by the publica- 



MISCELLANIES. 79 

tion of the Fable of " The Belly and the Members." 
Then we find that fables of all kinds have been 
written to improve mankind in knowledge and all 
the virtues, and that relates to their social compact. 
The strong and guilty have been reproved by 
gentle warnings ; folly, by satire ; and ambition has 
been curbed by allegorical predictions ; fanatacism, 
by ridicule ; and all kinds of vices by degradation. 

While wisdom and virtue have been rewarded by 
laudable applause, patriotism and courage have been 
awarded the civic and laurel wreaths, and all true 
greatness by admiration. 

This kind of literature appears to have had its rise, 
among all the other sciences, in the early age of 
Greece. This astonishing people, it seems from 
their first establishment, aspired to the sovereignty of 
the world in literature and the fine arts, in which 
they fully succeeded. In their figurative fable of 
Apollo, they are yet unrivalled in its earthly great- 



80 MISCELLANIES. 

ness, and had they let it stood in its earthly beauties, 
it never could have been equaled, for classic litera- 
ture. This fable, for grandeur of conception, and 
beauty of composition, cannot be excelled by human 
capacity. It represents man in all his earthly 
glory and greatness on earth. He appears to have 
been perfectly versed in astronomy, and taught men 
of lesser capacities to understand the movements of 
the heavenly bodies. But this is only an improve- 
ment in that science, for it was first brought by 
Thales from Egypt. 

Next we see Mount Parnassus made vocal by 
song, and the vibrations of his harp. Here he is said 
to have instructed the nine muses in all sciences 
that were to enlighten mankind and adorn human 
life. Here, by the help of his harp in the dance, he 
formed the group of the graces, and taught them all 
their attractive movements, attitudes, and positions ; 
and while all his actions had a tendency to harmo- 



MISCELLANIES. 81 

nize and improve the manners of mankind, and so 
much has it been prized, although a heathen mytho- 
logy, throughout the civilized world, that it has sur- 
vived the dark ages, and is cherished by all men of 
literature and science. While the whole heathen 
mythology, notwithstanding its many moral deform- 
ities and total improbabilities, is still held by every 
lover of literature, as an immense literary garden to 
stroll through and cull an occasional ornament for 
the effusions of his mind. 

Since which, Greece has stood pre-eminent in 
literature and the arts. Under her auspices, painting 
and sculpture have stood the test of ages without a 
rival. The paintings of the old masters are pre- 
eminent, and the sculpture of Praxiteles, the statue 
of Apollo, stands unrivalled in manly grace, symme- 
try, and strength ; while the Venus of the Greeks 
cannot be excelled in grace and symmetry in the 
combination of its parts ; and I have been told by 



MISCELLANIES. 



those who have seen it, while you'stand beside it, it 
is difficult to recognize it as the work of human art, 
from its transcendant beauties ; and so exalted and 
enviable was the state of Greece at a certain period, 
that even the proud Roman condescended to solicit a 
copy of the laws of Solon, whereby to govern his 
vast empire. 

Still, instead of gratitude to the true God for their 
achievements, the Greeks have in their exultation 
blindly, like all the surrounding nations, conferred on 
a visionary phantom divine honors, and dedicated a 
temple which contained the most celebrated oracle 
in the world, and here all persons resorted to consult 
the gods, before undertaking any great enterprise ; 
and here it was that Alexander consulted the gods 
before some great invasion, and received from the 
Priestess the laconic answer of" Thou art invincible." 



No. XV. 
CASPER TRAVE R S. 

A LEGEND OF WHITE POT. 

Casper was the most promising of the little boys 
that began their education under the care of a young- 
Irishman in the little village school house, situated 
about half way between the small villages of Dry 
Harbor and White Pot, in the township of Newtown, 
Queen's County, Long-Island, at the latter end of 
the ISth century. His parents were of the middle 
class of American farmers. Casper being more of a 
student, soon outstripped all his little cotemporaries 
in his lessons in reading and writing ; and was put 
into arithmetic long before any of us, (for the writer 
of this was among the little group of urchins who 
attended this insignia of juvenile aspirants ;) and 



84 MISCELLANIES. 

many a crying spell have I had through vexation, 
because I found myself so far behind, notwithstanding 
my utmost exertions. However, time rolled on and 
we were all obliged to relinquish the chase, and 
submit to come after in a slower pace, advancing 
step by step. But school boys are apt to be envious, 
and this we were to the full, whenever we heard him 
spoken of among the neighbors and patrons of the 
little weather beaten edifice of learning, of AVhite 
Pot. Casper soon went through Dilworth's arith- 
metic, land surveying, and trigonometry, as far as the 
Hibernian could teach him ; and this, at this period, 
was considered high juvenile acquirements. 

At the age of fifteen, Casper's parents, who were 
very much elevated by the aptness and advancement 
of their son in his early acquirements, soon began 
to have new objects in view regarding the advance- 
ment of him. They accordingly looked forward 
and thought they saw him a conspicuous merchant 



MISCELLANIES. 85 

in the city of New- York, as the life of a farmer was 
far beneath his unrivalled talents, and accordingly he 
was soon placed in the store of a merchant in that 
city. His assiduity did not forsake him. He con- 
stantly aspired to greater achievements, and soon 
became a very expert accountant, was offered a salary 
of $500 per annum, which at that time was con- 
sidered a splendid offer, so that Casper now appeared 
in the village a fine gentleman, and his dress cost 
more, probably, than all the dresses of the whole 
village, although dressed in their Sunday attire. To 
do him justice, he never appeared to think himself 
above his old school-mates, but always sought their 
company when he came to visit his parents. During 
this time I had been apprenticed to learn the tailor's 
trade in the country, which Casper advised me to 
relinquish, and accompany him to the city. With 
this proposition I was delighted, and as he left, he 
promised to procure me a clerkship. In this he found 



86 MISCELLANIES. 

difficulty on account of my lameness, but be did not 
relinquish bis purpose in securing me as a compan- 
ion in tbe city, and informed me of existing difficulties 
as to a clerkship, but stated that be had procured me 
a good situation with a Merchant Tailor, if I wished 
to continue my trade ; and this I thought, under all 
circumstances, would suit me better than tbe first 
plan suggested, and I gladly embraced tbe opportu- 
nity. Accordingly, by tbe assistance of my father, I 
made arrangements with my (I suppose I must say) 
master, for tbe remainder of my time, until I reached 
the age of twenty-one years, as I was but eighteen 
years of age at this time. This done, I commenced 
in New-York as a journeyman tailor, in good spirits. 
During tbe first year of my stay in the city, Casper 
had relinquished bis clerkship and became a partner 
in a mercantile bouse doing a prosperous business. 
While this sketch does not require any details of 
myself at present — but more immediately — my 



MISCELLANIES. 87 

friend. Casper's business was prosperous, and he soon 
became a respectable, if not a conspicuous merchant, 
and he had reached the acme of his wishes and 
expectations, for although he possessed ample capa- 
city, but here we see a lack — a want of mind; without 
this, no man need aspire to greatness — and in his 
prosperity and profusion of money, which he set no 
value upon, he soon formed improper acquaintances 
for a man of his generous feelings, which soon led 
him into loose habits, which were soon followed by a 
neglect of his business, and to render it still worse, 
his partner was more unfortunate in the case than 
himself, and their business was left to clerks and 
neglected, and they failed soon after altogether, and 
both were left in indigent circumstances as they sep- 
arated, Several of Casper's friends continued to 
hang upon him, thinking that his father would 
reinstate him in his business, and they would have a 
further pilfering from him, which would have been 



88 MISCELLANIES. 

the case, as he was the idol of a fond father, but 
some of his friends who were acquainted with the 
habits of his son, advised him to the contrary. When 
it was ascertained that there was no hopes in that 
quarter, many of the harpies that surrounded him, 
withdrew from his acquaintance. Now again left to 
his own exertions for a livelihood, Casper found it 
necessary to resort to a clerkship again. This he 
soon acquired from his well known ability. In this 
way he continued, but his habits were more extrava- 
gant than formerly, and his expenses were constantly 
overrunning his income. From this he resorted to 
borrowing from his various friends, of whom he had 
many, from his free and social endearments. This 
was not to continue long and wore out of course, as 
he failed to make payments. Still he kept in good 
spirits, and made a good appearance among us. All 
at once his situation seemed to change. He paid off 
many small debts when they pressed hard. The 



MISCELLANIES. 89 

cause of this change remained a mystery to all for 
some time, but the problem was solved by his marry- 
ing a maiden lady with a small property, some- 
what older than himself, but of respectability ; and we 
next see Casper as a housekeeper in a comfortable, 
but in rather a humbler way than was anticipated 
by either himself or his friends, with the salary of a 
clerkship for a support. This passed on for a year 
or two tolerably well, but habit, like a man's shadow, 
could not forsake him, (but for a season,) and among 
his habits for loose companionship, the curse and 
bane of this life to a great portion of mankind — in- 
temperance, made its way among the rest of his mis- 
fortunes. This like an incubus, hung heavy upon 
him, which soon destroyed his usefulness to his 
employers, and sapped the foundation of his humble 
livelihood. This bore heavy upon his mind, which 
being discovered by his remaining friends, who 
seeing no prospect of improvement, advised him to 
6 



90 MISCELLANIES. 

remove to the country near his father, and endeavor 
to regain his stability by absence from his city 
acquaintance and their habits. This at first was out 
of the question, for pride had not forsaken him. 
This was considered by those who loved and re- 
spected him, as a good omen, and they renewed their 
exertions to effect that end, and finally succeeded and 
gained his consent to remove with his wife into the 
neighborhood where he was born and brought up. 
This being accomplished, what was he to do for 
a support ] To work on a farm, he was too feeble, 
and then it occurred that he was capable of teaching 
a school ; and we next see him a teacher in the 
humble seminary where he acquired his first ru- 
diments, still in the age of manhood, but alas! ema- 
ciated from imprudence. Still he seemed to succeed 
tolerably well for sometime, but the pride, or rather 
folly of manhood could not brook the change of his 
situation. It was too heavy for his reflections, although 



MISCELLANIES. 91 

his friends and former young school-mates continued 
their regard towards him. Still he did not seem to 
be at home, for want of associates of another class, 
and nature seemed continually giving way under in- 
ternal thoughts and invisible excitements. All other 
vices had forsaken him, but intemperance seemed 
rivited to him, and seemingly all other considerations 
must be but as a second motive. How often have I 
reflected, how was it possible that a mind once so set 
upon the high and dignified pursuits in life, could be 
so changed to a mere nothing, But so it was, until 
all confidence among his friends and connections was 
destroyed, and they were obliged to relinquish all 
hopes of reformation. He continued to drag on in 
his little school for several years, while each succeed- 
ing year brought its new difficulties along, as in 
similar circumstances they always do ; while his 
employers became dissatisfied with him as a teacher, 
and he became dissatisfied with them. He afterwards 



92 



MISCEL L A N I E S . 



removed to other school-houses, until he became 
incapable of teaching a little country school, and 
finally from remorseful feelings, sunk into an untime- 
ly grave at the age of 40, without a blemish on hi» 
character as to integrity &c. 




No. XVI. 
MY UNCLE JOHNNY. 

On a fine afternoon in June, I had seated myself at 
mine inn, (as fat Jack FalstafFused to say) the Mas- 
peth Hotel. There was very little stirring, and the 
lusty landlord was gaping and sighing, saying what 
dull times these are. I called for a pint of pale sher- 
ry and a pipe. There sits quietly rather an aged 
but well dressed man, apparently musing on some- 
thing and I longed to have some conversation with him, 
and I politely invited him to a glass of my beverage, 
which he as politely accepted. As we both filled, 
we entered into common conversation of the times, 
and after a short time a vehicle drove to the 
piazza, and a lady and gentleman alighted and were 
shown by the smiling landlord into an opposite 



94 MISCELLANIES. 

apartment, as he accompanied to receive their 
commands. He soon returned smiling and licking his 
lips, observing, " by the powers of Moll Kelly, what 
a pretty woman," — and set to work to making lem- 
onade. He took the glasses into the apartment to his 
guests, and on his return made some more remarks 
on the fair sex generally, on which my companion 
smiling, observed, "Mr. , you appear to en- 
tertain a very different feeling for female attractions 
than an old acquaintance of mine did. " Aye," says 
the host, " how is that ! I thought every body loved 
to look on a handsome woman," "Aye, aye," says 
the other, " but there are some exceptions to that 
rule." " I was not aware of that/' replied mine host, 
laughing. '' O yes," replied the other, " I can tell 
you a short story of that, to support the position." 
" I should be pleased to hear it," says the host, as the 
other began. 

11 During my youth I was a very mischievous young 



MISCELLANIES. 95 

man, and was generally a leader in all pranks of my 
associates for fun. While I lived with my father in 
Water-street, New York, a parcel of some half a 
dozen of us youngsters agreed upon having some 
sport with an aged Quaker bachelor, who went by the 
name of Uncle John or Johnny, a very demure and 
a very wealthy and highly respectable man, who 
resided in the same house with a brother of his, who 
had a family. Accordingly, one evening one of us 
saw the married one go out of the house with his 
wife, consequently uncle Johnny was left alone, and 
was studying the art of hoarding up money, which he 
delighted in, in preference to metaphysics, Luther, 
John Bunyan, or any other abstruse science. One of 
the fairest and best looking among us was selected to 
personate a lady, to have a tete-a-tete with the 
Bachelor. Some fine clothes, &c, were borrowed of 
sisters and friends to dress in an elegant manner, and 
all was arranged for her to go and knock at the door 



96 MISCELLANIES. 

and be let in by Uncle John, while we were station- 
ed opposite the house to witness the interview and the 
result. The boy knocked at the knocker and pres- 
ently the slow footstep of the old gentleman was 
heard advancing with a candle in one hand. He 
unlatched the door and opened it, and seeing a fine 
lady, enquired what she wanted. On this, Gardner 
grasped both arms around his neck, saying, " I 
wanted to see you." The old gentleman was 
frightened, and shoved him hastily away from him, 
saying, " Go way, go way, thee filthy thing thee," 
and immediately slammed the door in his face. So 
there was one exception!" 



TSo. XVSI. 

LAFAYETTE. 

There are but few instances recorded in history, 
that affords anything like a parallel to the character 
and conduct of this young French Nobleman. 

Born in affluence and nurtured in the lap of affec- 
tion, where every wish was gratified until the early 
age of manhood, united in marriage to an amiable 
and interesting young lady, and respected and cher- 
ished at one of the most splendid courts in the world, 
yet all this could not satisfy his ardent mind, but 
urged on to deeds which required activity, or perhaps 
the thoughts that his country was sinking under the 
licentiousness of its profligate rulers, or perhaps by 
this idea, that the Canadas had been wrested wrong- 
fully from France by Britain, and of right belonged 



98 MISCELLANIES. 

still to the French, and saw no quarter at the Court 
of France could be applied to with the least pros- 
pect of success to such an enterprise, to regain the 
loss, and thereby reduce the power of England, or by 
assisting the United States in shaking off the 
yoke of England, which would greatly weaken her 
in North America. I say these might have been his 
motives, but we will waive all these and give him his 
just dues, as has been abundantly proved since, and 
say — he saw a young and enterprising people, after 
all supplications for their rights had failed, appealing 
to arms against a strong and tyrannical power, single- 
handed, and said I will succor them to the extent 
of my power. Next we see the gallant and ■_ 
rous young Frenchman embarked with his life and 
fortune, and tendering all in the cause of our emanci- 
pation. Then we see him side by side with Wash- 
ington, with his arms and breast bared to combat 
with the foes of the United States. He was appoint- 



MISCELLANIES. 99 

ed to many important commands during the Revolu- 
tion. 

The other day I again met my old friend of Mas- 
peth Hotel memory, when over a glass of pale sherry 
and a pipe, he related the following narrative of this 
exalted and bosom friend of Washington ; 

The following occurrence took place while his 
detachment lay in the Jerseys : While the forag- 
ing parties were dispersed in squads in order to pro- 
cure provender according to the usages of war, for 
their horses, &c, it happened that two men of the 
army were sent near Bergen Point among the 
farmers, in order to procure the necessary supplies. 
Then they went to a Dutch farmer's house where 
there happened to be no person at home but a little 
daughter, some thirteen or fourteen years of age ; on 
the learning of which they sauntered about the house 
for some time, and at length the inhuman monsters 
concluded to violate the child, and had accomplished 



100 MISCELLANIES. 

their dreadful purpose just before the mother of the 
child returned from a neighbor's house, on which t?he 
saw the child lying apparently, lifeless, on the floor. 
Her entrance was so sudden that the ruffians had no 
time to retreat and she had a fair look at both, as she 
screamed " my child ! You have killed my child." 
As she ran to take it up the villains fled, and no one 
knew where. She recovered the child and ran to a 
near neighbor's house, and soon spread the alarm, 
and then returned home, and after a few moments the 
father returned home, having just been at the camp 
in order to dispose of produce. The mother could 
inform him no further than that she came home, and 
how the child was found, and that the ruffians were 
out of sight before she could leave the child. " You 
saw them, did you ?" " Yes." " And would you 
know them again if you should see them ?" " Just 
as soon as I would Squire Vanhouten, or any body 
! -Ise." " Then I'll have satisfaction." "Yes," says 



MISCELLANIES. 101 

she, "but poor /'says she. "'Tis bad enough/' 

says he. I'll get my horse and ride up to Squire 
Brindle's and tell him all about it, and shall be home 
to dinner." 

The man arrived at the Squire's house in a short 
time ; he found the Magistrate quietly smoking his 
pipe, sitting in his Elbow-chair, and as he entered the 
room the Squire saw he had something on his mind 
and says, " Hance, what's the matter." He hesitated 
and hung his head and could not speak a word. — 
" Why Hance, how is all this V u Squire," he an- 
swered, " it is so bad that I cannot tell you :" but at 
length he told him the whole circumstance ; on which 
he swore terribly, " 'tis the same rascals that had my 
team and took a load of hay to the French General 
but just now, and Peter went with them to bring the 
wagon back — and your wife says she will know them 
again, and if the same, I am sure I shall — oh this 
damned Rebel-war : but that young French general 



102 MISCELLANIES. 

I am a little acquainted with, and I think he will do 
you justice in the case, so stay to dinner, Hance, and 
then go home and get up your wagon and bring your 
wife and daughter here, and I will go with you to 
the camp and see what can be done." Hance thanked 
him of course for his kindness, but excused himself, 
saying he could not eat any thing, and wished to be 
home. "Well, well, if you cannot eat take a good 
drink of grog, and muster Dutch courage enough to 
dojust as I have told you/' Hance replied, " I will 
sir ;" and departed to his unhappy wife and told her 
all, and she acquiesced. Accordingly at the time, they 
were all on the way to Brindle Hall, and found him 
already wrapped in his handsloper, waiting for them. 
The good Squire by the help of a chair and his wife 
was soon seated in the vehicle, and they proceeded to 
the camp of the Marquis Lafayette, where they 
alighted about three o'clock, and were met by a sen- 
try, who informed them the general was at dinner. He 



MISCELLANIES, 103 

)-ent the word by a soldier, who soon returned, saying 
44 the visitors must alight," and pointed out a marquee 
for them to sit in and he would come there. In 
about a quarter of an hour the general entered unat- 
tended, he looked somewhat surprised on seeing 
both men and women in his camp, he bowed courte- 
ously to all, and advancing to the Squire said, as he 
reached his hand to shake hands, " I believe I have 
had the pleasure of shaking hands with you before — • 
it is, is — pardon me sir, if I have forgotten the name." 
" Brindle," says the Squire, " it was at the church I 
saw you sir." " Yes sir;" he cast an inquisitive eye on 
the groupe around, and said, " What is it gives us the 
pleasure of seeing these good people at the camp V 
" My business, General, is of a very serious character, 
and I am afraid I shall detain you longer from your 
company than I wish for," "is it serious did you say] 
it should not be hastily done then, pardon me a few 
minutes and I will excuse myself to my guests." So 



104 Miscellanies. 

saying lie left them, but returned shortly, saying, " I 
will hear you, sir, with pleasure." " I doubt that much, 
General, I fear it will be with indignation," says the 
Squire : he smiled, saying, " I hope not sir." The 
Squire then related the circumstance to him, and the 
mother and daughter sobbed aloud as he said " justice 
shall be done for you Ladies." Col. A., one of his 
aids, was sent for, and soon approached. "Sir," said the 
General, "please bring the roll of the forage party to- 
day." In a short time the young officer returned and 
handed the paper to the General, who ran over the 
scroll with great emotion, " my God, Helvetus !* I 
hope it may not be you on account of your poor 
widowed mother. Col. have the guard summoned ;" 
and soon after the guard stood before the Marquee : 
" take the guard and have these men paraded in the 
street," and he handed the roll to the Aid. This was 
all done in silence, and they stood waiting in the 

* A y^ung Frenchman who volunteered to come witU him to America. 



MISCELLANIES. 105 

street, as the General thus addressed the groupe in 
the Marquee — " Now my friends, I wish you to un- 
derstand that this is a most important case, no less 
than of life or death : and it behoves you all to be 
sure and positive on all the questions I may ask you." 
With this he took the hand of the mother, and bade 
the rest remain where they were. It was a most 
solemn scene. He led her in front of the ranks. 
" Now Madam, I wish you to point out the two men 
you saw in your house at the time this infamous act 
was committed, without fear," and bade her to be 
particular. They passed nearly half the company 
without recognizing any one man. " Be sure Mad- 
am," says the General. The mother halted as a 
person endeavored to screen himself behind his com- 
panion in the front rank, and the keen eye of Lafay-> 
ette observed it. " That is one, sir," said the mother, 
and they passed down, — " this is the other, sir." 
" Madam, we will to the marquee," where he bade 
7 



106 MISCELLANIES. 

her be seated, and then took the hand of the daughter 
and led her to the other end where he and the moth- 
er had left, and spoke to her in mild words, " be 
careful child, and don't deceive me, nor yourself 
either." So saying he led her to the end of the ranks 
where the mother ended, and went the opposite di- 
rection, and of course came to the one in the front 
rank first. When she came to him, she said, " that i.< 
one that was present," and proceeded on. The young 
woman stopt as she had a glimpse of the one in the 
rear rank. " Is that the one 1" said Lafayette. 
She fell and fainted, and as she fell Lafayette caught 
her in his arms, and carried her to the marquee 
apparently lifeless. " My friends," says he, " I am 
satisfied; they shall both be punished, rest assured, 
according to their deserts." And accordingly a few 
days after the guilty culprit was brought by the 
guard to the place of execution, which was a large 
chestnut tree near the camp, where he was placed 



MISCELLANIES. 



107 



upon a barrel and a rope fastened around his neck, 
when Lafayette ordered the offender who was pres- 
ent and saw the act committed without offering to 
prevent it, to kick the barrel from under his feet. 




No. xvm. 
THE MEDICAL STUDENT. 

John Hanson, the student of medicine, left the 
laboratory early in the morning and pursued his way 
across the fields, towards Dry Harbor. He was 
sickened with fumes of the medicine he had been 
compounding, a composition of assafcetida, saw- 
dust, and rhubarb. The fresh air of the morning 
soon revived him, while the song of the mocking- 
bird cheered him on his way, and he soon began to 
reflect — "where am I going to? Ind what object 
have I in view ?" At this moment he discovered old 
Sambo, a favorite old African servant of his patron, 
and as I am a sinner, with a huge bull frog, sus- 
pended by his heels, in his hand. The boy laughed, 
saying, " where did you get him from, Sambo ?" 



MISCELLANIES. 109 

"Out of Momboccus' pond." "Sambo, poor fellow, 
what did you kill him for 1 they don't hurt any body." 
" Well, I'll tell you, Massa Johnny. — When I went 
by the pond, he say quom ! I looked at him a little 
while, and then he say quom! Then I said, why 
don't you say, Misser Quom 1 So he said quom ; 
then I grow angry — so I say, dam you, if you don't 
have better manners I'll take up that stone and 
smash you, you water-hopper ; and I. had no more 
than got the words out of my mouth, than he puffed 
his neck — quom ! says he ; then I let him have it, 
and he laid for dead." " And what are you going to 
do with him, Mr. Sambo," returned Hanson. "Oh, 
that I know ; Massa Doctor have him for his break- 
fast, when I skin him. Sambo get a dram and twelve 
coppers, I guess." "Twelve coppers, ha, Sambo V 1 
" Yes, Massa Johnny, and two copper for toads." 
" Toads, Sambo ; why, what does he do with them V 
(i Oh, he cut off their heads and dries them, pounds 



110 MISCELLANIES. 

them, and makes the patient's pukes, Massa Johnny — ■ 
quick, too." " My God," says Hanson, as the fumes 
of the medical breakfast rose to his throat. " Hush, 

you black d 1" — and he threw up the contents of 

his disturbed stomach. 

The conference ended, Hanson pursued his way, 
he knew not where. The African went home and 
prepared his bull frog for his master's repast, and 
received his coppers with a joyous heart. Poor 
Hanson pursued his way to a neighboring woods, 
and there had a sick day of it indeed, which lasted 
till late in the afternoon, before any returning appe- 
tite came to his relief. And now a new difficulty 
arose, namely : he had nothing to eat. At length it 
occurred to him that it was about the time for chest- 
nuts to begin to ripen, and he soon discovered a tree 
with plenty upon it. On this he stripped off his coat, 
and as he was an expert climber he soon beat oft' 
the burrs, and procured a delicious repast. As the 



MISCELLANIES. Ill 

dusk of the evening approached he found a new 
difficulty arising, namely : where was he to lodge % 
In the woods'? No, that would not do — Return to 
the Doctor, who was a bold, courageous man, and 
went the whole figure when he did go, and as he had 
left his duties unfinished in the morning, he dare not 
encounter the meeting. To skulk to a neighbor's 
barn for refuge — that would not do. What to do he 
did not know. His fears increased, until at length, 
he thought he would rather encounter the mortifica- 
tion of his parents, and the jeers of all his young 
cotemporaries as the last resort ; and so he concluded 
to return to the parental roof, which he reached 
about midnight. He procured a piece of timber 
and placed it to a garret window, and entered the 
house ; but the noise he had made had awakened his 
parents, and his father soon made his appearance in 
the chamber, with a light; and poor Hanson stood 
trembling and in tears as the old gentleman began 



112 



MISCELLANIES. 



his interrogations. — "Why, John, what is the mat- 
ter ?" And John blubbered out — " Oh, daddy, I don't 
want to be a doctor, no more I don't. And as I 
never knew of his aspirations after that, they must 
remain as I leave them. 




No. XIX. 
FIRST VISIT TO MASPETH. 

During the early part of my apprenticeship, when 
I must have been about fifteen or sixteen years of 
age, my boss was preparing his team and wagon to 
visit a store about two or three miles from home, in 
order to procure groceries and family supplies, and 
as I had not much to do at the time, very kindly 
invited me to accompany him, and I very gladly 
accepted the invitation. We rode to a place then 
called the English Kills or Newtown Landing. About 
three miles northwesterly from there was another 
creek or landing, likewise leading to the Sound, 
called the Dutch Kills, which was possessed by a 
neighborhood of Low Dutch settlers. We alighted 
from the wagon. While he went in to transact his 
7 



114 MISCELLANIES. 

business at the store, I strolled to the landing place, 
some hundred yards down a green bank leading to 
the water. Here lay several small boats, and among 
the rest a small log canoe, about one-third full of 
water. This happened to take my fancy, and in 1 
jumped with nothing but a small stick for a 
paddle ; I shoved off, perhaps about two yards 
from the shore, and being totally unacquainted with 
a boat, or aware of the rotundity of its bottom, I 
soon lost my balance in her, and over she tipped in 
the twinkle of an eye. She was bottom upwards and 
myself head foremost into the water, which as I 
recovered my feet was about breast high, and I was 
completely wet from head to foot. It was about the 
middle of April and the water was still very chilly, 
and what to do I did not know, as I was ashamed to 
go into the store. — As I grew very cold I ventured a 
short distance, where stood a small house and where 
hung a sign for a tavern, and in I went. Here was 



MISCELLANIES. 115 

a large stove, and the room was comfortable and 
warm. Here were several men drinking, &c, and 
they soon discovered what had happened to me, and 
set up a hearty laugh, saying, " I had been in old 
Caesar's eel pot," so called from its being the pro" 
perty of an aged free black, for fishing purposes, and 
they had much merriment on the occasion, but told 
me to set close to the stove and dry myself, which I 
did and soon felt comfortable. 

But how to get along with my boss, was the worst. 
But soon after I heard some one calling. I answered, 
and met him as he was getting into his wagon. As 
we were riding along, he observed from my clothes 
something had happened, and I finally related the 
whole circumstance to him, and he enjoyed the joke 
at my expense, and observed, "you will long re- 
member your first visit to the Kills;" and this was 
very true, for I never passed the place on my way 
back and forth to New- York, but I thought of my 



116 MISCELLANIES. 

ducking, &c. And this continued, and afterwarde 
when I resided in the city, on my visits to my father, 
many a joke have I had with various acquaintances 
as we rode past. This continued after I was in 
business in New- York, and as my business prospered, 
I made up my mind to own the place if it was ever 
for sale, and I able to purchase it; but this did not 
happen until the year 1S15, when it was advertised 
for sale, and I was the owner in three days after. 
While that seemed the consummation of all my 
wishes at this period of my life, and I had been 
industrious and frugal, in order to be able to own 
this place above all others ; and 1 made my arrange- 
ments to remove to it immediately and reside there, 
while still continuing my business in the city with 
the same avidity that I had before. In the mean 
time, not relishing the name of English Kills, I found 
from the records of some old Indian title, that the 
Indian name of this place was Maspeth, which 1 
immediately adopted. 



MISCELLANIES. 117 

Some years after, I had been fishing down the 
creek, and had taken a little son with me, a boy 
about five or six years of age. On our return, the 
tide had not risen sufficient for the boat to float into 
the boat-house. I left her and took a seat in the shade, 
a few paces from her, leaving the boy to his own 
amusement. . I had left but a few moments when I 
heard a splash in the water, and the boy cried out, 
" Papa, I'm in." I sprung on my feet. Where he 
was in the water was about one foot deep. " Papa, 
what shall I do V I could but laugh, saying, "lay 
still." He hesitated a few seconds, and gave me a 
confused look, saying, " no, I wont." A moment's 
recollection brought to my mind that it was within 
six feet from the spot where I pitched from old 
Caesar's log canoe. And thus it appears that this 
vicinity has had its incidents as many other places. 

Here, by the Herculean mind of De Witt Clinton, 
was planned for maturing the stupendous under- 



118 MISCELLANIES. 

taking of uniting the waters of Erie with the Ocean. 
Here was the home of the boyhood of Dr. Valentine 
Mott, one of the most distinguished surgeons and 
mediciners of the age. Here the present proprietor 
has a beautiful collection of concology, and likewise 
a small collection of natural history and other curios- 
ities, and a few very old books, &c\ And here pro- 
bably the humble author of the Maspeth Poems will 
hang his harp on the willows planted by his own 
hands. 




No. XX. 

A LEGEND OF HEMP SWAMP. 

About the middle of the 18th century, there re- 
sided in the little village of Hemp Swamp, Newtown, 
Queen's County, L. I., two very respectable farmers 
by the name of Justus Van dine and Pharao Rudus. 
They were both of the better class of farmers, and 
were on the most intimate terms of friendship. Their 
farms lay about a quarter of a mile apart, so that the 
children often visited each other, and both attended 
one school. Justus Vandine was rather a tenacious 
man, and prided himself on his Holland ancestry ; 
but Rudus was an open, free and off-handed man, 
and hardly gave himself time before he spoke; but 
sometimes, over his cups, he would come out in great 
encomiums on his Welsh ancestry ; so that one 



120 MISCELLANIES. 

might think he was near of kin to Sir Cardigan Som- 
ers ; and at another sitting, having forgotten his 
former boasting, assert that Sir Watkin Wynn of 
"Wynnstay, was his first cousin, and that the former 
had sent him many a brace of young birds before 
they were full fledged, from his rookery, which he 
said was the best eating in the world ; and they lived 
in the greatest harmony, and would have so con- 
tinued during their lives, had it not been for the fol- 
lowing unfortunate circumstance. It appears it was 
a prevailing custom among the neighboring farmers, 
Avhen any thing a little out of the way in their busi- 
ness was to be done, the neighboring farmers were 
invited to assist, with themselves and their teams, 
and many a roaring jubilee has taken place in the 
little village of Hemp Swamp, after a wood-carting 
or a corn-husking ; and often a spinning frolic, when 
their wives and daughters attended likewise. These 
were followed by a dance, &c, where Vandine's old 



MISCELLANIES. 121 

Frank was leader, solo, bass and all, with his rickety 
old fiddle. This state of harmony and good fellow- 
ship continued till Vandine had been cutting his 
winter store of wood from his own woods, when one 
evening he invited about a dozen of his neighbors to 
assist him in getting it home the next morning. A 
dram in the morning, was, at this time, considered 
indispensable, and scarcely any spirits was used but 
Jamaica spirits; this was generally contained in square 
flasks, and all drams were taken from the flask with- 
out tumblers, which were then scarcely known. 
After the company were assembled round a good 
sparkling fire, before they started for the woods, 
Vandine produced his flask with the beverage and 
stepped in front and drank to their good hearth him- 
self, and handed it to the person at the head of the 
circle ; it went from one to another in rotation till it 
came to Rudus, he drank and passed it on to the 
next, and the custom was for the host to face hia 



122 MISCELLANIE?. 

guest while drinking. As he turned his back, Rudurf 
reached his head to his next neighbor — "What poor 
rum !" he whispered, ao loud that Vandine overheard 
what he said, but appeared to take no notice of it. 
After this they all started and each brought his load 
of wood, and this took two hours. After unloading, 
Vandine invited them in. They rested a short time 
and each was preparing for another load, when the 
host brought out the flask, and it went the round as 
before until it came to Rudus, when Vandine reached 
out his hand as Rudus was about to receive it : the 
flask was handed past him as Vandine remarked, 
very mildly, "Rudus, this is poor rum." Rudus felt 
the rebuke, but said not a word, and they all departed 
for another load ; and on their return, while no obser- 
vations were made, and Rudus with them as though 
nothing had happened, and Vandine thanked them 
all cordially, &c. No further notice was taken of 
the affair till the spring following, when Rudus had 



MISCELLANIES. 123 

been to market late in the afternoon. On returning, 
lie saw his neighbor near his house and recognized 
him at some distance and pretended to be very much 
inebriated, and purposely guided his horses into a 
considerable of a pond of water. It was a raw after- 
noon, and the ice about half an inch thick. He then 
apparently fell on his back in the wagon. Vandine 
approached to the pond, and called him by name 
several times, but got no answer, and finally con- 
cluded it would not do to leave him thus. He very 
deliberately pulled off his shoes and hose and rolled 
up his trowsers, waded to the horses, and adjusting 
the harness, was prepared to drive them out of the 
pond, as the other raised on his seat, saying, "I 
thank you, Jus Vandine," and drove off without any 
other observation. But the joke went too far; they 
never were friends afterwards. 



Wo. XXI. 

SKETCHES IN ORNITHOLOGY. 



But when the widow gets married again, 
The scene is all changed in crack, 

And away to the d 1 goes care, 

With a tiptillary. tiptillary whack. 

Old S07lg. 



An acquaintance of mine, who is considerable of 
what is commonly called a bird granny, which means 
a person who takes delight in singing birds, was 
telling me the following little circumstance, which 
took place among his Canary birds, a short time 
ago, which seems very much to illustrate the instinct 
affinity, &c, of that family of delightful little war- 
blers. It seems he had selected a pair for stock, 
and put them into what they term a breeding cage. 
They had hatched two, but from some cause, one of 



MISCELLANIES. 125 

them died ; the other was a fine healthy bird, and 
had became almost fully feathered and lledged. 
They were all three suffered to remain in the cage 
together, until it was at length discovered that the 
whole back of the yen ig one was in a state of nudity, 
the old one having set to work to build a new nest, 
and had partly picked the feathers from its back for 
that very purpose. Thus it fully appeared that the 
tie of consanguinity ceased when a new nest was 
wanted. Birds of a feather don't always flock 
together. 

On the hearing of this, I related to him the follow- 
ing little circumstance, which came under my own 
observation, on my farm this present fall. During 
the past summer, the poultry had greatly increased, 
and many of the fowls had sought roosting places on 
the various adjacent trees, &c, on account of the 
crowded state of the fowl house. On collecting them 
on the approach of frosty nights and cold storms, 



126 MISCELLANIES. 

my domestics resorted to a lantern, in the evening, in 
order to find them in their various roosting places. 
When they had secured, as they thought, all they 
could, as they passed the dog house — (this was occu- 
pied by a setter dog, kept constantly chained, on 
account of a habit he had of eating every egg he 
could find, and for which he would search, when 
unchained, as for game birds, when accompanied 
by his master, on a hunting excursion; — and he had 
suffered a small cur dog to partake of his house, 
and here the two friends slept) — there they heard 
more chickens, which it seems were disturbed by the 
noise and light. This ]cd to an enquiry and searcli 
for more, and finally they found that the noise came 
from the dog house, and on examining they discov- 
ered eleven large and well grown fowls in the back 
part of the house. The dogs lay with their heads at 
the entrance. On the attempt to take the fowls out, 
the small dog seemed to express great resentment at 



MISCELLANIES. 127 

the loss of his companions, when a small boy, who 
was carrying the light, observed, " those are the very 
chickens that used to run so when I fed the dogs;" 
on which one asked, " what made them run V " Why 
to get some of the victuals." " Why would the dogs 
let them have any ?" " None but the cold potatoes. 
But let them touch any of the meat, Carlo only 
growled, but Joker pitched into them, I guess he 
would ?" I thought it was rather a singular congre- 
gation — two dogs and eleven chickens all living in 
perfect harmony in the dog house. 




No. XXII. 

SLAVE RY, 

Slavery — There seems to be something in the 
very sound and meaning of this word, the inner man 
seems to revolt against. How then must this be 
when brought home I — My mother is a slave ! my 
wife ! my father ! my child ! 

In the vicinity where I was born, in the town of 
Newtown, Queens County, Long Island, the village 
consisted of fifteen or twenty of the better order of 
English and Low Dutch farmers, each occupying 
from eighty to three hundred acres of land ; each had 
its flat roof house and its comfortable kitchen 
attached ; and at almost every marriage occurring in 
this community, a male or female slave was the 
immediate portion of the young folks on the com- 



MISCELLANIES. 129 

mencement of house-keeping. This was hailed by 
the young slaves with the greatest joy, as they then 
felt themselves emancipated from the control of their 
fathers and mothers, whom they dreaded far more 
than their masters and mistresses ; while this arrange- 
ment, through the influence of masters and mistresses, 
generally ended in the marriage of the young slaves. 
This they solemnized by a very respectable wed- 
ding. And here commenced a new race of children 
in the kitchen as well as in the house ; and as they 
were well fed and clothed, generally numbered from 
eight to a dozen, and generally lived and grew to 
man and womanhood, while the most pleasant part 
to an observer was to see them all paraded on a 
Sunday morning, comfortably clothed and clean, 
ranging one a few inches above the other, with the 
exception of a dumb or otherwise a queer negro, then 
generally seen on the homestead, and who were not 
chosen as marriage portions ; and as I have often 



130 MISCELLANIES. 

observed the affinities to their homes were much 
stronger than their masters; and I have known, 
when the masters were the don't care kind of men 
and tavern haunters, that the slave had taken the 
charge altogether, and managed the farms better than 
even their masters had. 

This state of things continued until emancipation 
began to be agitated in the councils of the State ; 
and many of them grown to maturity, left their 
homes, both male and female, in anticipation of the 
event, and took refuge in the purlieus of New-York ; 
and their masters were obliged to hire strangers, 
mostly Irishmen at that time, as Bonaparte kept the 
Germans employed at home. And at length the great 
jubilee took place ; freedom to all slaves over 
years' old. I shall never forget the quaint remark of 
two aged slaves, when my grandfather went to the 
kitchen and informed them that they were now both 
free and at liberty to go where they pleased. Tho 



MISCELLANIES. 131 

poor old woman began to shed tears, while old Simon, 
who sat quietly smoking his iron pipe, began, " Why 
Dinah, what you crying about 1 Old master won't 
turn us out doors, will you old' master]." "Why 
Simon, you are now free as I am, but if you both 
wish to continue with me, this shall be a home for 
you." On which old Simon laughing and displaying 
his ivory, replied very significantly, " Well, old mas- 
ter, you have had de flour, I guess you must hab de 
bran too." The old gentleman could not help smil- 
ing, or crying, or perhaps both, as he left the kitchen. 
Some three or four years ago, T visited this place, 
and was informed there was not a single colored fam- 
ily within a mile of his house, except two or three 
hired men, among the farmers for the season. The 
question then with inquirers is, — where are they ? 
The question can be readily answered by the Police 
Officers and Superintendents of the Alms House in 
New-York. 



132 



MISCELLANIES. 



In the mean time, the reader is respectfully in- 
formed, that the writer never wished to own a slave, 
nor is he an abolitionist, but a mere relator of facts 
as they have transpired in his own time, and nothing 
in extenuation do I write, nor " aught in malice set 
down." 




No. XXXXI. 

Mr. JACOBS AND HIS CAT. 

During my residence in New-York, about twenty- 
five years ago, I lived in Frankfort-street, and 
frequently, as I sat reading at the window, I saw a 
short, squatty, little old gentleman pass with a quick 
step, and I became anxious to know who he was. 
Accordingly, one fine day, I took my hat and followed 
some distance behind him, and at length he stopped 
at a porter house, then called St. John's Hall. I 
waited a few minutes, and likewise walked into a 
spacious bar-room, and took up a newspaper; — 
while the little man was seated at a short distance at 
another table, and soon called for a glass of gin 
toddy, which the landlord brought to him, and saluted 
him by the name of Mr. Jacobs. I soon found that 



134 MISCELLANIES. 

they were on the best of terms, and the host was fond 
of healing him and his broken English, which, by 
the by, I also soon felt delighted with, and I found 
him to be an old resident of New-York, — a great 
observer of what hid passed in his time and knew 
what was passing still. After about an hour's time, 
he left and passed on up the street towards the Park. 
Now a favorable time offered for me to inquire of 
mine host who the little gentleman was ; and he 
frankly told me who he was, and promised me an 
introduction the next day at 11 o'clock. At the 
appointed hour I attended, and found him sitting 
with his Geneva before him, and the landlord intro- 
duced Mr. Jacobs to Mr. Rusticus. He seemed a 
little shy at first, but having finished his glass, and 
the landlord left to wait upon others entering, he 
soon became very communicative, and took the 
whole conversation to himself; only when he had 
worn out a subject, I would venture to suggest 



MISCELLANIES. 135 

another, and as I had understood he was wealthy, I 
felt desirous to know how he had acquired his 
wealth, which I found him no ways scrupulous about 
telling. He frankly told me that he rented a small 
tenement in Chatham-street, and commenced the 
pawn brokerage business, with a small stock which 
he had made by peddling from a basket on his arm, 
and his first aspirations after wealth were at the 
time of what was called, " Mother Cary's Mob."* 
" How under the sun could that benefit you V " Oh," 
says he, " the street was knee deep with feathers, bed 
c'othing cut to pieces, and broken furniture. These 
I bought up of the people who gathered, and got 
them very cheap, and. sold at a great profit, and I 
cleared more than five hundred dollars." Then I 
heard the particulars of that far famed riot, and as 
I had heard sufficient of this disgusting narrative, 



* Her famous brothel oocupied the site where Clinton Hall 
no.v sun Is. 



136 MISCELLANIES. 

and was about to change the subject, a company of 
butchers from the Old Fly Market came in, took 
some refreshments at the bar and went out without 
noticing us; after which the landlord joined us. 
As he seated himself, Mr. Jacobs began : " I dell 
you vat, Mr. Malroy, dat Larry Fink is a dam rask." 
" How so, Mr. Jacobs 1 every body likes him." — " I 
don't care for dat ; I say he is a dam rask. Now, 
Mr. Malroy, Vrow Dykernick make me von present 
of one leetle keeten. So I take him an' I give him 
to my vrow. Well, he grow big ; so every day to 
market I buy my beef and sheep of Larry Fink, I tell 
him put piece liver for de cat, so I tell him one dime, 
I say, I don't know, Mr. Fink, what de matter wid 
de cat, he yowls and yowls all day and all night too ; 
when he say, ' 'tis he cat, you must get him altered/ 
1 Mine Got,' I say, ' he die, no, no, I no take two 
guineas for him,' He say, ' he no die at all. I will 
alter him, and warrant him to live, for one guinra, 



MISCELLANIES. 137 

not to die ; but he will surely run away, if you don't 
do something wid him,' So I tell him, ' I give him 
de guinea, and says he, 'I stop when I come up 
from market.' So he did, and bring great big putcher 
knife. So I fraid and go out de room, and leave him 
dare and his putcher boy to leam. So den he came 
tell me, * he no yowl no more.' So I give him de 
guinea and he go home to dinner. So I go in de 
room, see de blood all over de carpet, and so I feel 
very sorry." 1 —" Well," interrupted the landlord : — 
"Stop, I tell you, Mr. Malroy, not more as tree 
weeks dat same cat had keetens himself." 



no. xriv- 

RURAL SPORTS. 

I was induced to make the following remarks, 
from a visit of two friends, who had just returned 
from an excursion into the interior of this State, on 
a fishing and fowling adventure. As they were of 
the Isaac Walton stamp, I listened with great plea- 
sure and satisfaction to their remarks. They had 
visited a small lake, called the Pisego. It is situated 
in Hamilton County, State of New- York. This 
spot is nearly in a state of nature, and very thinly 
settled. After some fatigue in getting there, they 
spent some days on and about a splendid sheet of 
water, amid the mountain scenery. The lake 
appears most to abound in the larger species of trout, 
commonly called salmon trout. The usual mode of 



MISCELLANIES. 139 

taking them is by trolling. The reciting of the sport 
of the capture of the largest of them was truly amaz- 
ing, and must have been managed with dexterity 
and great care, as he weighed between fourteen and 
fifteen pounds, with the tackle used on the occasion. 
He must have been a splendid fish. I had the plea- 
sure of receiving as a present, the head and shoul- 
ders of him, being packed in ice and sent to the 
city. It was excellent, but would have been better 
perfectly fresh. 1 was highly delighted with the 
description of the lake, scenery, &c. I was not aware 
that the State contained so wild a spot. The sports 
of hunting are from the squirrel, the raccoon, fox, 
bear, deer, and even to the enormous moose. 

This seems to disprove, what some writers have 
asserted, that these animals have become extinct in 
the United States. However, all circumstances seem 
to prove that they cross and recross with many wild 
animals upon the ice from the Canadas, in winter. 



140 



MISCELLANIES. 



The panther is likewise said to have disappeared, 
but they have been seen in this vicinity ; but none 
have been taken as I could learn. 

The same sportsmen visited this lake the last 
summer, and found at the upper end of the lake 
great success, and took nearly one hundred pounds 
of lake and brook trout, in about four hours. 




No. XXV. 

SHEEPSHEAD FISHING. 

It is extremely gratifying to an old fisherman of 
the west end of Long Island, to see this manly and 
healthy exercise reviving after a partial rest of about 
half a century. At that time this was nearly con- 
fined to the old burghers of South Newtown, Flat 
Lands, and New Lots. Those old worthies, then, 
were the only persons who were acquainted with the 
places where these magnificent fish were caught. 
Their names are familiar with the earliest recollec- 
tions of the writer : — such as Blackwall, Broad 
Creek, Broad Channel, Goose Pond, the Rhondt, &c. 

At the head of this aspiring and new movement, 
as the Sir John Hawkins, is the untiring caterer for. 
this world's comfort and amusement, William Niblo, 



142 MISCELLANIES. 

Esq., of New-York ; and as the Isaac Walton, 
Mr. Hiram "Wright, of Flatlands — with William 
Eaton, Esq., of Long Island, as grand steward. They 
and their associates have taken a number of these 
fine fish this season. The season generally begins 
about the 4th of July, and continues late in the 
autumn. 

The taking of a sheepshead is not a child's busi- 
ness. In the first place, the tackle must be ample 
and substantial ; for to take a good sized fish, the 
sportsman must be prepared for a struggle. The 
fish are quick and strong, and do not yield while 
there is power left. I am not speaking of a vague 
thought, but I have seen the blood flow freely from 
the fingers of the captor. The taking of the sheeps- 
head is one of the most splendid feats in the whole 
catalogue of fishing, and when the fish is first thrown 
into the boat, with his armor crested and black and 
silver belted stripes, as he begins to sicken from the 



MISCELLANIES. 



143 



loss of his element, it reminds you of a prostrated 
eagle, or the subdued lion. So much for the pleasure 
of taking them, while for the table they are cot 
excelled by any other that inhabit our waters. 




REMINISCENCES OF BUSHWICK. 




BrSHMTJCK I'Hl'RCH. 1820. 



No. XXVI. 

LONG-ISL A ND. 

Without adverting to the extent of wealth and 
population of Brooklyn, we are pleased to see that a 
spirit for improvement is fast gaining ground in 
Williamsburg. The introduction of steam ferry boats 
instead of team boats seems to have acted like a 
talisman upon this village, and the conveyance to 
and from New-York is executed with far greater 
facility than formerly ; consequently it is becoming 
to the upper wards of New-York what Brooklyn is 
to the lower. Streets are opening and extending, 
houses are going up, and the whole is beginning to 
assume a rising appearance. We are likewise grat- 
ified to see that several applications are to be made 
to the Legislature for improving and shortening the 



148 MISCELLANIES. 

distances to all the towns on the north side of the 
island. 

A number of the adjacent towns convey their pro- 
duce, &c, by land to the New- York market. Among 
the most conspicuous of them is the town of New- 
town. This place is favored by a soil capable by 
industry of affording both garden and field vegeta- 
bles of the finest kind and of almost every variety 
that our climate admits of; and already contributes 
largely to the supply of New-York ; and likewise its 
milk dairies are excelled by none in richness and 
excellence of taste. 

It behoves the Legislature in every laudable way 
to promote their industry and perseverance in their 
hnmble exertions. It should be recollected that the 
gardener must start from his home long before day- 
light with a heavy load, and wind his dreary way 
slowly toward the city ; and after toiling through the 
forenoon of a hot summer's day, looks over the long 



MISCELLANIES. 149 

and circuitous road toward his home. Often have 
we met or passed them on the road seeming almost 
ready to drop with fatigue; — the same may be said 
of the dairy man. Then why not, in every instance 
when it is practicable, improve and shorten his route 
to and from the city. In all countries the encourage- 
ment of industry has been held in great estimation, 
and we surely hope to see the same spirit prevail in 
our legislative country. 




No. XXVII. 

L ON G-ISL AND. 

Perhaps it may be wondered at that my last com- 
munication was dated at Bushwick, L. I., and this in 
the city of New- York, but this will be easily 
explained: The old mansion house at Bushwick, 
which I inherited from my ancestors, having stood 
the brunt of many years, devolving from one gener- 
ation to another, has now become dilapidated and 
shattered by the course of time, so far, that the severity 
of the present winter has rendered it almost untena- 
ble with comfort to my two maiden sisters, Gertrude 
and Bridget, as well as to myself; and the last snap 
of cold weather having stiffened my ink so as to 
render my pen useless, which of course rendered me 
so too, for I always had a great aversion to bodily 



Miscellanies. 151 

exercise, even from infancy, although favorably dis- 
posed to industry in others : and this is my first 
reason for the step I have taken. 

And again, villages are encroaching upon ouf 
neighborhood; streets are extending; avenues are 
opening ; hills are sinking, and valleys are rising — 
which threatens, to a certainty, destruction to all 
gardening prospects : and our once thrifty fields of 
cabbage, horse radish, and peppers, &c, &c, all of 
which our vicinity abounded in. Under these circum- 
stances— unlike the aborigines of our country, who 
fly to the wilderness on the approach of civilization 
and the manners of Christianity, &c, — I have deter^ 
mined upon an opposite course, and have migrated 
to the centre of both, say Broadway, in New- York ; 
where I am partaking of all the luxuries which one 
of the most fashionable carfavanceras affords. It is 
warmed by several of Dr. Nott's stoves, and we 
enjoy summer in the midst of winter. My ink has 



152 MISCELLANIES. 

become limpid, and flows free, while my pen has 
regained its usual activity. And now I shall under- 
take to say a few words in further praise of my new 
location, if I can. Our table abounds in all the good 
things incidental to the season, and all the choice 
viands that the most scrutinizing epicure could im- 
agine ; and our circle cares as little about the hue 
and cry of temperance societies, and all that sort of 
thing, as they do for the man in the moon. And, so 
far, things are going on well enough ; but I always 
was fond of riding as an out door amusement, and 
still reserve my grays and curricle, — having heard 
much of the Third Avenue, leading from New-York 
to Harlaem, as a fine riding course. It is spacious, 
level, and McAdamized ; and, on a fine bracing 
forenoon last week, I invited my friend; Capt. 
Shandy, (whose merits, by the by, I shall take 
another opportunity to speak of,) to an airing, and of 
which he cheerfully accepted. We proceeded on 



MISCELLANIES. 153 

our way over rugged pavements, and clouds of dust, 
whirled by the wind into a thousand fantastic eddies, 
&c, and soon reached the Third Avenue, where we 
were newly assailed by additional difficulties — a 
tribe of fungi came whirling along at full speed, 
shouting and hallooing on every side, which seemed 
to pervade the whole avenue, as far as our vision, 
amid the dust, extended. We became alarmed for 
our safety. Indeed, they drove so furiously, and 
frequently not clearing our vehicle more than an 
inch, so that we were glad to alight at a well known 
inn, a short distance from the city, whose host re- 
ceived us courteously at the door. He is a lusty 
man, with a good-humored face, and great urbanity 
of manners, and we partook of his good cheer, dur- 
ing which, observing us rubbing our eyes to free 
them of dust, &c, he said, " Dusty riding, gentle- 
men." — " And rather dangerous, too," I observed. 
41 How far are you riding V observed he. " By the 



154 



IISCELLANIES. 



lord Harry," said the Captain, "I would rather 
storm a redoubt than ride another mile." We 
parted with a good morning, and arrived safe home, 
and seated beside a comfortable fire, we soon began 
a discourse on the quietude and beauty of the roads 
on Long-Island. 




10 



Wp. X3CVXXX. 

LON G-ISL AND. 

Whoever lias known the convenience of a com- 
fortable Dutch farm-house, with its four good rooms 
on the first floor, and spacious hall running through 
the centre, with wide piazza extending front ana 
rear quite across the building, will readily conceive 
the difference to a person in one of the fashionable 
hotels in New-York, where there is no place during 
a storm of rain, sleet, or ice, similar to the late one 
we have experienced, to shake off ennui, but close 
rooms, with coal fires, frequently choked with cin- 
ders and ashes; or take up your line of march through 
a narrow hall covered with oil-cloth, or mount severa. 
flights of stairs, and those, as I hope for salvation, 
covered with lead, zinc, or some such material, worn 
9 



1 56 MISCELLANIES. 

to a polish nearly approaching that of a mirror, by 
constant usage, and the least mis-step lays you 
sprawling, to the imminent danger of life or limb, 
and such we have to experience ; still our kind host 
is so very attentive that we bear it patiently, and 
endeavor to amuse our fire side circle in our own 
way. We have whist, chess, &c. 

I had occasion to mention in a former number, 
Captain Shandy, who improves much on acquain- 
tance, and who, by-the-by, proves to be a lineal 
descendant from the renowned Captain Shandy, 
whom a celebrated novelist has given the familiar 
name of Uncle Toby, who you will recollect joined 
the British army on the continent at the time when 
they contracted the habit of swearing so terribly, 
which, by-the-by, seems not to be entirely forgotten 
by the descendant; but Gertrude and Bridget are 
endeavoring to correct it by their kind solicitations. 
He is a person of erudition, and is a tolerable Oxonian 



"MISCELLANIES. 157 

Scholar; he has seen much service in the last cam- 
paign, and the one, of which I was speaking, he 
seems to be most pleased with, was under the great 
Duke of Wellington, whom he extols above all other 
commanders. 

But I have been digressing too long, and must 
now say something of Long-Island. 

The morning was mild, but rather moist: the 
Captain and I concluded to take a ride there, and 
accordingly crossed the Williamsburgh ferry. Our 
movement on the river was extremely slow, owing 
to the want of steam on the boat, or some other cause ; 
and we started for the Jamaica road, and were soon 
involved in a new difficulty, on account of the break* 
ing up of the frost, and rendering the road a continual 
bed of mire. We drove slowly on, and arrived at an 
inn upon the road, designated on the sign, Half Way 
House. Here we halted and alighted a few minutes, 
and were well received by the host. We partook o f 



1 58 MISCELLANIES. 

a half pint of pale Sherry with a toast, and then 
ordered our carriage to the door, and were soon on 
our way back again towards Williamsburgh. We 
had not proceeded more than a few rods on our way. 
when Robin, presenting his face to the front light of 
our carriage, said, " Master Rulef, what place was 
that where we stopt V I replied, " Paradise, Robin. ?r 
" Humph !" returned he, " muddy paradise ; another 
ride here at this time would be the death of Rob 
Roy ; but Jarvie stands it like a nailer," alluding to 
the horses. " Tell the black devil not to drive so 
fast," said the humane captain. Nothing more of 
consequence happened, and we arrived safe home, 
and were seated beside a good fire a short time, 
when the captain arose without saying anything, and 
left the room, and in less than an instant, bang ! came 
a noise from the hall ; we started from the room, and 
as we opened the door, there lay the Captain, rubbing 



MISCELLANIES. 



159 



his left shin. " Oh, that zinc ! — by the Lord Harry, 
Oh, Oh ! — I have not been hurt so since the big raw- 
boned Kentuckian threw the bale of cotton upon me 
at New-Orleans!" 




No. XXIX. 
LONG-ISLAND. 

" What," says Decoursey, as the Captain was 
rubbing his shin in the greatest agony, " threw the 
bale of cotton on you V We raised the Captain and 
conducted him to a sofa, where he was seated by the 
fire, and every thing administered to his comfort. A 
bale of cotton thrown upon you ! Well, my father 
wished me to record all Yankee notions, and this is 
one of them : so down it goes in my letter to him by 
the next packet." Nothing further passed during 
the evening. 

Next morning the breakfast bell had rung several 
times, and our company assembled slowly ; presently 
in came Decoursey, rubbing his eyes and yawning, 
" Qh, what a dull morning. Oh, landlord, if I had a 



MISCELLANIES. 161 

cold potatoe, sliced, and broiled, and buttered, I 
should relish it much : it was a favorite of my father's, 
at Limerick, occasionally." " I will see, sir," says 
our obliging host, " whether Mrs. Betty has any," as 
he rose from the table to give his orders accordingly. 
" How did you rest, Captain, the last night ?" said 
Decoursey. The Captain, thanking him politely, said 
" very well — that he felt little or no inconvenience 
from the hurt this morning. And, at this moment) 
the host entered the room in a fit of laughter, scarcely 
to be described, or imagined. All sat mute, while 
the paroxism lasted. " How comes on my potatoes V 
says Decoursey, gravely. " He ! he ! he !" says the 
laughing host, " I've often heard of cheating in all 
trades, but this caps all. As I entered the kitchen, 
saying, " Betty, I want you to slice up two or three 
cold potatoes, left of yesterday, and broil them for 
Mr. Decoursey's breakfast ;" Betty looked as though 
something had happened of serious consequence, say- 



162 MISCELLANIES. 

ing, ■ There are none, sir.' I left the kitchen, and 
John, the waiter, followed me to the foot of the 
stairs, and whispered to me, ' She mashed them up, 
and put them all with the soap fat, and sold it to the 
ash man last evening.' I could say nothing, hut 
retreated up stairs : and so, Mr. Decoursey, you are 
dished out of your broil." The whole table began 
to titter, and even old Gertrude looked at her sister, 
and in spite of all courtesy and politeness, the whole 
table were in a roar, the coffee spilt, &c. Decoursey 
at length began to laugh in turn. — "Well, this shall 
go home to my father, as another Yankee notion, 
next the throwing a bale of cotton upon a soldier on 
the field of battle." The company saw what it 
meant, and in compliment to their general favq 
assumed a gravity commensurate with the occasion. 
The breakfast was soon ended, but the Captain 
looked dejected and said nothing. We had seated 
ourselves around a good fire, and it was snowing 



MISCELLANIES. 163 

hard. After a short pause, says I, " Nothing for 
Long Island yet : well, I must say something of 
Long Island." All were in attention in an instant. 
" Excellent," says Decoursey, as I began — " Last 
fall my neighbor's farm, at Bushwick, had been sub- 
divided and sold, in small sections, to various pur- 
chasers : among others, a lot adjoining my garden 
was sold to a decent Irish family, by the name of 
O'Reilly, with five or six small children. They were 
a fine healthy group of little urchins, and I had 
frequently distributed a pocket fall of cents among 
them ; and, through that means, had become a great 
favorite with them. O'Reilly's house sprung up like 
a mushroom, and soon the cheerful little family 
seemed to be enjoying more happiness on their little, 
than their neighbors did on their large estates, until 
one afternoon, when the poor woman came crying 
into my room, 'Oh, sir, what shall I do 1 your little 



164 MISCELLANIES. 

Bryan and your poor Terry, are dying-.' 'For 
heaven's sake, madam, what's the matter 1 ?' 'Oh. oh, 
I must go home and see to them.' I threw oft* my 
slippers, drew on my boots, and hastened to the 
scene as soon as possible — and one of distress it was 
indeed. I immediately despatched my man Robin 

for Dr. C , of the village of Williamsburgh, who 

in a few minutes entered the room, and seeing the 
mother's anguish, and the children's moans, ex- 
claimed, ' For heaven's sake, madam, what is the 
matter V at the same time examining the children- 
' What have they been eating?' says he. She hes- 
itated : ' Nothing,' says Bryan, ' but tomatoes, we 
took from Mr. B's garden.' ' Oh, you bad boy?,' says 
she. The doctor asked for the dish on which they 
had been placed, where there was still some remain- 
ing. He took a good bite of it, and in instant 
exclaimed, ' Whew ! whew ! whew ! red peppers, by 



MISCELLANIES, 



165 



heavens L Now boys, do not you go into that garden 
again — even the potatoes will serve you the same.' 
And then, leaving an emetic for each, called for a 
glass of water, and left the house." 




No. XXX. 

LONG ISLAND. 

The Captain sat a few minutes after Decoursey 
had left the breakfast table in silence, and one began 
to leave the room and then another, until myself, Ger- 
trude and Bridget alone remained, when he began 
thus : (rising from the table and pacing the room) 
"That lad's name is no more Decoursey than mine is; 
his real name is O'Leary — but no less respectable 
than what he now assumes. I am perfectly acquaint- 
ed with the whole circumstances ;" still pacing the 
room, while we were yet sitting at the table, anxious- 
ly waiting to hear what would come next. All was 
silent — he began; "His father, the Baron O'Leary, 
had intended him for a clergyman in the Roman Ca- 
tholic Church — placed him at one of the foremost 



MISCELLANIES. 107 

Universities in the world, which is Trinity College, 
Ireland, but young O'Leary, not liking the life in 
which he was designed, to move, took a distaste to 
the profession and every thing appertaining to it, and 
accordingly, one day in company with one of his 
young associates, jestingly expressed himself disre- 
spectfully towards some particular points, &c, which 
was overheard by one of the professors of the Institu- 
tion, who immediately reported the same and young 
O'Leary was summoned before the tribunal to an- 
swer for his misdemeanor, and the proof was so con- 
clusive against him, that nothing could save him j 
power, wealth, family standing, long and powerful 
ancestry came forward to his relief, but, alas ! it 
availed nothing ; he had uttered the words, and that 
was incontrovertible, and, after an impartial exami- 
nation, poor O'Leary was expelled the College, and 
then as it appears, directed his attention to mercan- 
tile pursuits, under the patronage of his uncle, who 



168 MISCELLANIES. 

is largely engaged in the exportation of linen, tothig 
country." The whole group had sat silent until this 
instant, when Gertrude sighed — " Poor young fellow ! 
I wonder what he had said" " True," said Bridget, 
" what could he have done to incur such* displeasure 
towards him 1 Was it treason against his country, 
Captain V " Poh, no !" said he, " it was not! to his 
praise I say it." " Could it not be told !' was the ex- 
pression suppressed 1" " Poh, no !" said the Captain, 
" it was not of great moment, considering a lad of 
his years, disliking his studies. It's no more than 
simply this : In a laughing moment he happened to 
say among his companions that he thought St. Patrick 
must have been an old flunkie, for not driving the 
devil out of Ireland, instead of the poor snakes and 
frogs." " Oh prodigious !" exclaimed Bridget, "what 
a young sinner!" "Brother," said Gertrude, "The 
weather looks propitious, and I think it is about 
clearing off pleasant ; suppose we ride over to the 



MISCELLANIES. 169 

mansion and see how things go on there !" "With 
all my heart, 1 ' I replied, "sister." Captain, will you 
be of the party? " With the greatest pleasure in the 
world." "Ring the bell, Bridget," said I, who sat 
next the corner, and presently Robin entered. — 
" Robin," I observed " how are your horses." "Prime, 
sir !" was his answer. "Shoes good?" 'All prime, 
sir !" Robin stood in attendance. Gertrude said our 
larder must want reinforcement. ;" Robin," said I, 
u go to the market and tell Mr. Bullhead, the butcher, 
I want a surloin of his ribbond beef, in the meantime 
enquire at the ferry house if our Long-Island Star 
has come over vet. 



No. XXXI. 

LONG-ISLAND. 

The clouds had spread and the sun shone beauti- 
fully about eleven o'clock as our carriage drove to 
the door, when we entered and soon reached Wil- 
Hamsburgh ferry, where, after being detained some 
time for the arrival of the boat, we at length got on 
board. It happened to be a dull one, and the wind 
and tide ahead. I am thinking, said the Captain, this 
is a badly arranged ferry ; the docks are not opposite, 
besides this seems a dull boat, one-third of the time 
might be saved in the distance and almost the same 
by a better constructed boat. True Captain Shandy, 
says I, but as Decoursey says, so many Yankee and 
other notions have crept in amongst us Knickerbock- 
ers that it is difficult to say at any time what will 






if 




MISCELLANIES. 171 

come ftext— we reached the Long-Island shore and 
came at length to the mansion of my early days about 
twelve. Here, says I, Captain, we will enjoy our- 
selves in a walk on the front piazza, amid the sun- 
beams that surround us — we handed the ladies from 
the carriage and immediately old Dido met them at 
the door with "Lord bless you my young mistresses, 
I thought you would come to-day, and the big kettle 
is over for samp porridge for dinner." And as the 
Captain and me had been pacing the piazza, old 
Scipio came hobbling along, and mounting the steps, 
Oh, Master Rulef, I am so glad to see you again ; it 
has been a dull winter while you was away !" " Most 
happy (I returned, seizing his withered hand,) to see 
you " Says he, " it is some time since we have seen 
each other. Master Rulef, I had a strange dream 
the other night, about William, what used to be so^ 
intimate with old master in the old war." " Oh yes, 
Scipio, I recollect hearing my father speak of him- 
10 



172 MISCELLANIES. 

very well ; he is now King of England." " Oil, 
hush, Master Rulef!" "But Scipio, it is true — he 
was a hard one, was he, Scipio 1 and there was one 
more with them, I thought the old Harry and Mother 
Gary's chickens would fly away with, as they did 
with Dirck Vander, the little Alderman's son, one 
night. Well Scipio, (I said, well knowing his mean- 
ing,) you will send Hannibal to me;" and in an 
instant Hannibal entered the room, with a counte- 
nance as smiling as the rising sun upon an April day, 
moving and displaying a set of ivory that the greatest 
beauty in Broadway almost might have envied him 
of. " God bless you, Master Rulef! glad to see you 
home again ! What will you please to have?" " Here," 
I replied, " take this down to Scipio and drink our 
healths." " Yes sir, but when did you hear from 
Plattsburgh V 1 " Aye, that will do Hannibal," as I 
bade him proceed upon his errand, and he turned 



MISCE.L1AKIE S -. 173 

towards the door, but at the same time kept his face 
towards us, saying, " did'nt we pepper their red 
backs for them," as he left the room. The Captain 
bowed, " I did not know, Mr. Vanderdonk, that you 
had been in the army." " It is true, Captain, that I 
have seen some service, but am but a novice in mili- 
tary affairs." " Sir, in the retreat of the British army 
that day there was an American officer who had 
ventured too far among our rear and was seized by 
a few Canada soldiers, and there was an officer 
bade them release him, and he flew from his perilous 
situation ; — I seized his hand eagerly" — " Captain 
Shandy, I was that man !" " Well, sir, things are 
curiously ordered, in this world : I bade them release 
you ; the day was lost, and why should a brave man 
lose the credit he had so dearly won !" I took the 
Captain's hand and drew him to the side-board, 
filled my glass of pale sherry, and bade him do the 



1T4 



MISCELLANIES. 



same. " Now, sir, since we are better acquainted', 
here's to the memory of those who fell on that day, 
and a health to all survivors." He readily antici- 
pated my views the same in return. 




tf o. XXXIX. 

LONG-ISL AND. 

Dinner soon ended. The Captain and myself had 
taken our seats to enjoy a segar with our bottle ot 
pale sherry standing between us, when a small 
colored boy and a little whiffet dog approached us 
with a chafing dish of coals. " Well, Sip," says I 
" how do you come on V " I don't know, sir" — was 
his reply. " Where is Shazy, as you call him V 
" Dead, sir." " How came that, Sip, did he die f u 
"No, sir: Granny scalded him to death." "How 
came that, Sip V " Why, sir, one day, when Grand- 
daddy was sick, Granny killed a chicken to broil for 
him ; and when it was on the gridiron the monkey 
stole it, and the little dog and the cat both followed 
him into the granary, and when Granny came in the 



176 MISCELLANIES. 

chicken was gone. She thought they were up there, 
and went up and found them all three feasting on 
broiled chicken and raw onions, She did not say 
any thing, but went right back and took the tea- 
kettle of boiling water, and went up into the granary; 
soon as they saw her coming they all scampered, 
and Shazy climbed up on a high beam and there 
laughed at her. She did'nt know what to do at first, 
but soon said, ' Sip, go bring me your big reed 
squirt !' and when I brought it, she shut the door,, 
took off the lid of the kettle and filled it with hot 
water, and says she to him, ' you may laugh t'other 
side of your mouth, for I'll fix you yet !' She pep- 
pered him, but did'nt he scream, and bye and bye 
he began to shake and tremble all over, and then fell 
quite down on the floor, and began to cry just like a 
little baby ; Granny took the kettle and poured it all 
on him, and he kicked a little and stretched out for 
dead." " And was'nt you sorry 1" " A little, sir ; 



MISCELLANIES. 177 

but she gave me Nimble Jerry!" — pointing to the 
little dog beside him. The Captain screamed with 
laughter, and, grasping his sides with both hands — 

" for heaven's sake, Colonel, send the black d 1 

away." Bridget at that moment opened the door 
and enquired, " what is the matter ?" " Send the 
black dwarf away; these negroes will be the death 
of me." " What is the matter ?" continued Bridget, 
gravely. " Nothing," says I, " sister, only the Captain 
and little Sip have had a spat" — convulsed with 
laughter. " Has he been impudent ?" " Oh, no, it 
was a small argument on modern history." She 
turned away smiling. " By the good Harry," said 
the Captain, " Belshazzar's feast on Long-Island." 
"Yes, Captain, and now we both know how the say- 
ing of ' a black dog for a monkey' originated. Sip 
go tell Robin to get the carriage ready." 



No. XXXIII. 

LONG-ISLAND. 

We arrived safely at home about sunset, and were 
comfortably seated by the side of a good fire, when 
the captain observed — 

" Mr. Vanderdonk, there is something in your 
country arrangement which I admire more than any 
thing that I have seen in America ; and that is, the 
home feeling which I saw in those domestics at the 
mansion. It was our house, our horse, our every 
thing ; they appeared to take an interest in every 
thing that related to the household." 

"Yes, Captain," I replied, " those household do- 
mestics are very near to me. That old Scipio is one 
of the greatest chroniclers that I know of. Would 
you believe it ! that old man — but I will get the ma- 



MISCELLANIES. 179 

nuscript, in my own father's hand-writing; and 
which I read as follows : 

" While the British had possession of New York 
during the revolution, and their fleet lay there, I had 
contracted an intimacy with a young midshipman 
belonging to the fleet. He was a stripling about my 
own age, and we became very intimate in almost 
every boyish exercise ; among them was skating ; 
and where Centre street now is in the city, was a 
pond called the Collect, where, with hundreds of 
boys, we too used to resort ; and one afternoon the 
weather was mild, and the frost had given way con- 
siderably, and softened the ice. I said, ' Scipio, 
bring our skates, and we will exercise ourselves on 
the Collect.' 

We started in great glee, Scipio carrying our 
skates. As we approached the ice, he took a look 
upon it, and said, ' Master Rulef, the ice is soft and I 
would not venture on where the water is deep ;' but 



180 MISCELLANIES. 

young and heedless, we paid little or no attention to 
his advice, and soon joined in the round of some 
twenty or thirty young men, and were among the 
most expert among them. ' Now, Rule, cut over,' 
says he. I did so, but the ice bent under my weight, 
the water gushed around me through the wind holes 
— but he could not retreat, and came on. I passed the 
tender spot, but my companion broke through. Sci- 
pio stood at a short distance from us, and flew to- 
wards us. I halted as I saw him struggling with the 
ice around him ; ' Now, Bill, be calm and cool,' says 
I. By this time the black was beside us. There 
stood a stake at a short distance from where the 
young man was struggling. Scipio threw himself 
down on the ice, and grasping the stake ; Master 
Rulef take hold of my feet, and stick your feet to 
him,' — which I immediately did. 'And now, Bill, get 
hold of my feet, and hold on ;' which he did. 'Now,' 
says I, ' pull yourself out ;' and in a few minutes we 
were safe on the shore. 



MISCELLANIES. 181 

At this time there was but here and there a few 
scattering houses around the pond ; while the young 
man stood shivering with wet and cold. 'Come young 
masters ; I know where to go : we will go to old 

;' and he led us to a small house, where we 

were soon beside a fire which was replenished with 
brush, &c. ' Young masters, you had better have a 
dram,' says Scipio; and of which we partook; but 
for a change of clothes for our comrade; but this 

evil was soon remedied, 's best Sunday clothes 

were brought out for the stranger. We staid till 
dusk of the evening began, and then made the best 
of our way back to Queen street, now Pearl street." 

I need say no more of that, captain, but to add to 
the story — since that time George III and George IV 
have died, and Prince William Henry has been pro- 
claimed king of England. 



No. XXXIV. 

GROWTH OF WILLIAMSBURGH. 

In the year eighteen hundred and twenty-five, the 
Messrs. Garrit and Grover C. Furman, both mer- 
chants in the city of New- York, purchased twenty- 
five acres of land in Williamsburgh, beginning on 
South First-street, aboutone hundred and fifty feetfrom 
what is now Grand-street, near the corner of Second- 
street, thence to South Third, the width continuing 
to Sixth-street, from General Johnson, at - three 
hundred dollars per acre. At this time there were 
no buildings on it, but all enclosed by a good stone 
wall, divided into small fields, for cultivation and 
pasturage, and in one field, the writer remembers, 
there was a fine patch of potatoes. This, at that 
time, was, by many timid and prudent people, con- 



MISCELLANIES. 183 

sidered a wild and almost crazy speculation. But it 
was bought under a conviction, that this place must 
become the same to the upper part of New- York 
that South Brooklyn (as it had then began to be 
called,) was then to the lower, which was greatly 
advanced in value in consequence of the same. But 
at that time they hesitated how to commence; 
whether to continue it awhile for farming purposes, 
or otherwise. However, they soon decided, and had 
it surveyed and run into city lots. The next move 
was to offer the Dutch Reformed congregation one 
hundred feet square, in any part of the whole tract they 
liked best; this they accepted with thankfulness, 
and set about erecting the church where it now 
stands, and lots for private residences began to be 
enquired after; and now a new difficulty arose, 
what shall they charge for a lot % However, this 
was soon decided upon — they sold the two first lots 
to Dr. Cox, at one hundred and fifty dollars each ; 



184 MISCELLANIES. 

after which, they sold so fast that they advanced 
them to two hundred dollars, and in less than three 
months, two hundred and fifty dollars, &c. And so 
it held on until the general decline of property, 
which preceded the general bankrupt law. But 
before this place became incorporated, a general 
regulation of the streets took place. The giving of 
the ground to the church, may be said to be the first 
start of the village ; for it seemed to give a general 
impulse to improvement, and made the place more 
desirable for family residences, and was soon followed 
by new schools, &c. ; so far that at this time there 
are 15 or 20 places of worship, and several large free 
schools, and many factories of various kinds. About 
eighteen hundred and forty, Maspeth Avenue was 
opened and the little rotunda Dutch church, at Bush- 
wick, was taken down and replaced by a more com- 
modious edifice. About this time the Catholics pur- 
chased the old Alsop Farm, adjoining the North 



MISCELLANIES. 185 

Route Bridge, over Maspeth Creek, as it is said, for 
a cemetery and female institution of learning, &c. In 
the spring of eighteen hundred and forty-six, there 
were several houses going up this side of Bush wick 
church, on Maspeth Avenue, and on the Jamaica 
turnpike ; and it is believed, by the writer, that six 
or seven hundred houses were built in Williamsburgh 
during the year ending the first of January, eighteen 
hundred and forty-seven. 



/ 



